In Goa zila panchayat poll results, BJP sees resounding win, Congress incremental gains

At a press conference on Monday evening, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said, “This is a victory of the NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have won both the district panchayats with a simple majority. I congratulate all the victorious leaders and assure them that they will work for development. I thank all the rural voters of Goa for reposing their faith in our party and government.”

In North Goa, the BJP won 18 seats, the Congress won two, RGP won two, and MGP won one and two seats went to independents. In South Goa – which has been a traditional stronghold of the Congress – BJP won 11 seats, the Congress won eight, MGP won two, and GFP and AAP won one seat each, while independent candidates won two.

In the press conference, BJP Goa President Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik said the claims of the Opposition parties of vote rigging through EVMs have been successfully invalidated, since the elections were held using ballot papers. “The results have indicated that there is no alternative to the BJP… This shows that people have true faith in the BJP,” Naik said.

The Congress said it is “thrilled” with the party’s “strong performance” in the zila panchayat elections, saying it marks “a significant victory for the people of Goa who are increasingly turning away from the failures of the BJP government”.

Manikrao Thakare, All India Congress Committee in-charge of Goa, in a statement said, “In the 2020 ZP elections, Congress won just four seats, but this year, we have increased our tally to nine seats… This improvement follows our resounding victory in the South Goa Lok Sabha seat in 2024, where the people of Goa sent a clear message against the BJP’s mismanagement, corruption, and neglect of local issues.”

He said the party’s gains in the rural body polls reflect the grassroots resurgence of Congress. “The voters of Goa are fed up with the BJP’s empty promises and divisive politics. From crumbling infrastructure to failed economic policies, the current government has let down every Goan. Looking ahead, we are confident that this momentum will propel us to a decisive win in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections,” he said.

In the 2020 zilla panchayat elections, the BJP had won 33 seats.

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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