PANAJI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has tightened its grip on the Zilla Panchayat polls, racing ahead with 16 seats as results continue to come in. The Congress and Independent candidates trail at a distance with five seats each, while the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party (GFP), and Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) have secured one seat each. The Aam Aadmi Party has failed to open its account.
Among the BJP winners, Nilesh Parwar won the Querim ZP seat, Mahesh Sawant secured Karapur–Sarvan, and Rajshri Rajesh Gaonkar emerged victorious from Rivona. Amit Asnodkar retained the Socorro seat for the party, while Raguvir Kuncolencar won from Taleigao. BJP candidates Poonam Samant (Borim), Anjali Velip (Barcem), and Premnath Dalvi (Nagargao) also registered wins, with Dalvi retaining the seat for the saffron party.
The Congress recorded victories in Nuvem, where Anthony Braganza emerged winner, and Curtorim, where Astra Ranzille Da Silva was declared elected.
Independent candidates also made their presence felt. Sunil Jalmi won from Betqui–Khandola, Kavita Kandolkar from Colvale, and Merciana Vas from Cortalim.
