Assembly Poll Results: BJP Romps Home in Goa

 

Goa witnessed a multi-cornered election with BJP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, and AAP trying hard to win the mandate of the people. In 2017, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the State, winning 17 seats but BJP, which won 13 seats, managed to form the Government with the support of the Goa Forward Party and the MGP.

 

BJP receives support from with MGP, Independent MLAs Bharatiya Janata Party winning 20 seats out of the 40 seats in the Goa Assembly, the party's election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis said that it will form a full majority Government in the coastal State with the support of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three independent MLAs. "We have won 20 seats. MGP has also given us a letter of support. Three Independent MLAs have also supported us. So, now we are 20+3+2 =25. There is a possibility that more candidates will join us. So we are forming the government," said Fadnavis.

 

While Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party with 20 seats, it will comfortably retain power in Goa. The party will take a decision on staking claim to form the next Government in the State after a meeting of its newly elected MLAs. Pramod Sawant, is all set to continue as the Chief Minister. He retained his Sanquelim seat.

Congress finished second with 11 seats while Independents bagged three seats. Aam Aadmi Party has also managed to open its account in the State as the party won 2 seats, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party bagged 2 seats, Goa Forward Party 1 and Revolutionary Goans’ Party 1.

 

 

Addressing BJP workers after his party's landslide victory in four States, PM said that exit polls have been proven wrong in Goa and vote shares of BJP have increased in all the States.

Accepting defeat in Goa, Congress leader 

P Chidambaram said that the Congress lost by a 'very small' margin. “We accept the verdict of the people of Goa. Our candidates fought bravely, despite several obstacles… People have voted BJP to power and we accept that. In several constituencies, we lost with very small margins.”

 

Congress leader Michael Lobo told reporters, "We had thought that we would win but we have to accept the people's mandate. We will work strongly as the opposition. Congress will have to work hard to win the confidence of people."

Late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar, who contested independently in the Goa Assembly elections, has also lost from the Panaji constituency by 716 votes.

It is to be noted that in order to avoid repeating the 2017 fiasco, the Congress shifted all the candidates who had contested the Assembly polls to a luxury resort in Bambolim village near Panaji on March 8.