Politically speaking, the results of the Zilla Panchayat elections in North Goa
on Tuesday didn’t go in favour of any single political party or grouping even
as the opposition BJP seems to have taken a beating.
As if the last month’s political rumblings reflected on ZP elections, the Group
of 7 MLAs, put up a fairly good show on their own. Health Minsiter Vishwajeet
Rane-backed Sattari Yuva Morcha fielded seven candidates of which six won in
Sattari and Bicholim taluka. They wrested Mayem from BJP and Usgao-Curti from
Ravi Naik. Their candidates emerged victorious and that too with huge margins
in Pale, Kudnem, Nagargao and Honda.
MGP’s Dhavlikar brothers - Sudin and Deepak- also managed to get their nominees
elected from their respective constituencies. Besides, one candidate of the MGP
won in Pernem taluka.
Unattached MLA and Education Minsiter Babush Monserrate saw to it that his
nominee Janu had a smooth sailing in Taleigao while reportedly he had backed
one candidate in Santa Cruz who defeated MLA Victoria Fernandes’ candidate.
In Tivim, NCP MLA Nilkant Halarnkar proved his popularity by getting his
nominee Diana Braganza elected in a triangular contest from Tivim where even a
candidate was strongly supported by Dayanand Narvekar. Former BJP legislator
Sadanand Tanavde’s candidate failed to do well. Apparently, only four
candidates supported by BJP were successful in North Goa.
Vishwajeet Rane has said that considering the response of the voters in the ZP
polls, the non-Congress, non-BJP groupings would have their president in the
new NGZP.
COUNTER CLAIMS: While President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC)
Subhash Shirodkar claimed victory in 13 constituencies out of 30, the BJP
reacted defensively saying polls were not held on political lines.
Party President Laxmikant Parsekar tried to rubbish the claim of the Congress.
Shirodkar said excluding those won by Sattari Yuva Morcha, the Congress has
done well. “We’ll be able to wrest power,” he said.
Parsekar said their workers or well-wisher had contested on their own.
Nonetheless, he said 7-8 office bearers have won – in both the districts.
CONGRESS: Congress MLAs more-or-less succeeded in holding on to their fort as
most of the candidates backed by them have won.
This was seen in Bardez where both the Dayanand Narvekar-backed candidates
Kunda Bagkar (Aldona) and Gupesh Naik (Penha-de-Franca) won the seats while
Agnel Fernandes-supported Abelina Menezes retained her seat in Calangute and
Jayesh Salgaocar in Reis Magos.
Similarly, former transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar got his brother Dhaku
elected from Cumbarjua and Vrunda Naik from
Chorao. St Andre MLA Francis Silveira worked hard to get his brother Antonio
re-elected from St Lawrence constituency.
In Pernem, Sports Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar succeeded in warding off
the opposition from the BJP and got his nominees elected. Only two candidates
supported by their MLAs in the taluka did well. Party President Laxmikant
Parsekar represents Mandrem and Dayanand Sopte Pernem.
In Siolim, it was partial success for the opposition party as only one
candidate nominated by local MLA Dayanand Mandrekar won while the other lost.
Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar with his nominee managed to hold on to Latarbarcem.
The big success for the BJP in North was in Saligao. As analysed earlier, the
Sunday polls turned out to be an interesting battle of ballots. Dilip
Parulekar’s candidate Michael Lobo, despite I-T raid less than a month before
the poll, eventually, got the better of architect Tulio D’Souza – the
son-in-law of former CM Dr Willy in Saligao constituency. Tulio lost by around
700 votes.
Apparently, for the second time, Trajano D’Mello and Salim Shaikh contributed
to the defeat of the de Souzas. Former Saligao sarpanch Daya Mandrekar
supported by the duo polled around 1500 votes.
Meanwhile, sources said in quite a few constituencies (mainly in Bardez and one
or two in Tiswadi) money power played an important role to win over voters.
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