Bharatiya Janata’s Party’s (BJP) lead in Goa assembly elections continues, as it had won 14 seats by 4:30 PM on March 10, 2022 followed by the Indian National Congress (Congress) that won 6 seats as per ECI data.
Of the remaining three seats, independent candidates won 3 seats in Bicholim, Cortalim and Curtorim, while the Goa Forward Party won 1 seat in Fatorda. Similarly, Revolutionary Goans Party won 1 seat in St. Andre and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) won 1 seat in Marcaim. The MGP is backed by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.
Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 2 seats – Benaulim and Velim. AAP candidate Captain Venzy Viegas’s victory in Benaulim is a particularly special win for the party that earlier today also bagged Punjab elections with a thumping majority. Viages beat veteran and former MLA Churchill Alemao by a margin of 1,271 votes. Earlier while talking to NDTV, Alemao, who is now with the TMC, and has been party-hopping for quite some time, had dismissed a debate with his competition dismissing Viegas as a “bacha” or child.
The captain now celebrates his victory as the first AAP MLA in Goa.
We have We shall be for GOA & GOANS https://t.co/Ci6wNYYutP
— Capt. Venzy Viegas (@VenzyViegas) March 9, 2022
Congratulations Captain @VenzyViegas .
Your hard work paid off!
Now the harder task awaits for you, taking up and sharing the human development and corruption free governance ideology of the @AamAadmiParty in the legislature and streets of @goa.
Wish you all the best sir. https://t.co/cm4zEQ5vs5— Happy Nagashetti ? (@fatopiniatedguy) March 10, 2022
Still, the larger victory remains with the BJP winning seats in constituencies Curchorem, Dabolim, Maem, Navelim, Pernem, Poriem, Porvorim, Priol, Sanguem, Siroda, Taleigao, Tivim, Valpoi and the state capital Panaji.
BJP candidate Atanasio Monserrate beat independent candidate Utpal Parrikar, the son of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The deceased was also a member of the BJP and died during his tenure on March 17, 2019.
Meanwhile, Goa Congress leader Digambar Kamat won a seat in the Margao constituency. He served as the Chief Minister between 2017 and 2012. Other seats won by the Congress party are Aldona, Calangute, Cumbarjua, Mormugao and Quepem.
BJP continues to lead in 6 other constituencies followed by the Congress with a lead in 5 seats. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leads in two seats while AAP candidate Cruz Silva leads with a margin of 169 votes.
As of 4 PM, the BJP enjoys a vote share of 33.4 percent and the Congress enjoys 23.4 percent vote share. According to the ECI, the AAP has a 6.8 percent vote share. However, early trends showed the BJP likely to reach the half-mark.
According to the NDTV, State BJP leaders will meet the Governor later today to stake claim for government formation. If the BJP wins a majority, this will be the third state term of the saffron party in the coastal state.
Related:
Goa Assembly Elections: BJP leading after 5 rounds of counting
A sweeping lead in Punjab is a dream coming true for AAP
EC suspends 3 in UP, puts Delhi, Bihar officials in charge on Counting Day