Cong-GFP alliance, AAP, BJP, NCP, RGP and Independents lock horns for decisive electoral clash
MARGAO
The battle lines are finally drawn for the nine crucial Zilla Panchayat seats spread across minority Salcete going to polls on December 20.
In fact, the stage is set for a high-stakes electoral showdown in Salcete as nine crucial seats head to the polls on December 20 for the South Goa Zilla Panchayat elections. All nine constituencies will witness multi-cornered contests, with the Congress–Goa Forward Party (GFP) alliance fielding candidates in every seat and facing stiff competition from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in eight of them.
The ruling BJP is contesting three seats—Navelim, Davorlim and Guirdolim—the latter two being constituencies where the party had registered victories in the 2020 ZP elections.
With the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) no longer part of the Cong–GFP alliance, the regional outfit has put up candidates in four constituencies: Velim, Colva, Raia and Nuvem.
Another INDI alliance partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has fielded candidates in Benaulim, Colva and Navelim, signalling a multi-layered contest within the broader anti-BJP political space.
The Congress is contesting eight of the nine seats—Velim, Curtorim, Guirdolim, Benaulim, Colva, Nuvem, Davorlim and Navelim—while its ally GFP is contesting the lone Raia seat.
A total of 42 candidates remain in the fray after withdrawals, including around 15 Independents, who are contesting from constituencies such as Benaulim, Colva, Velim and Raia. Raia and Velim have drawn the highest number of candidates with six contestants each, followed by Colva and Curtorim with five each, while the remaining five constituencies will witness four-cornered battles.
Cong-AAP face-off in six key seats
The Congress is set for a direct fight with AAP in six constituencies—Velim, Navelim, Benaulim, Colva, Nuvem and Guirdolim—as it attempts to retain its stronghold over Salcete. AAP is contesting eight of the nine seats, staying out only from Davorlim. This places the party in direct confrontation with Congress in the three seats of Benaulim, Colva and Velim, areas represented by its MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva in the Goa Legislative Assembly, signalling AAP’s broader push to expand its rural footprint across Salcete.
BJP focused on retaining Davorlim and Guirdolim
The BJP is contesting in only three seats, but its strategy clearly prioritises retaining Davorlim and Guirdolim, the two constituencies where it tasted success in 2020. The party has not fielded candidates in the remaining six Salcete seats, instead backing select Independents. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s decision to launch the party’s South Goa ZP campaign from Guirdolim underscores the BJP’s determination to hold onto the seat.
Congress to grapple with RGP factor
With the Revolutionary Goans Party out of the Congress-Goa Forward alliance group, the Congress will have to handle with the RGP factor in Salcete, where the regional party had put up an impressive performance in the 2022 Assembly election. RGP candidates are in the fray for the four seats of Velim, Colva, Nuvem and Raia seats. The Congress is already facing AAP in the seats of Velim, Colva and Nuvem and it remains to be seen how the principal Opposition hands RGP factor during the campaign.
NCP sets up three candidates
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party was part of the INDI Alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls after all the major opposition parties came together to dislodge the BJP. After a cold shoulder from the Congress, the NCP has fielded three candidates in the ZP constituencies of Benaulim, Colva and Navelim, indicating that the Congress will have to contend with an alliance partner fighting for the same non-BJP political space.
GFP tests political waters beyond Fatorda
For the first time, the Goa Forward Party is contesting the Zilla Panchayat elections and also stepping beyond its traditional Fatorda stronghold. The party is contesting the Raia seat, where it faces stiff competition from AAP, RGP and multiple Independents. Notably, the Raia ZP seat has been held by the Dominic Gaonkar family for four terms—three by Dominick and one by his wife Fatima, who is contesting again this year after the seat was reserved for Women (ST).
