MAPUSA
With just three days left for the campaign to draw to a close, political parties have stepped up efforts to consolidate support in Bardez taluka, emerging as one of the most crucial battlegrounds in the ongoing Zilla Panchayat elections, particularly for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Having swept eight of the nine ZP seats in Bardez in the 2020 elections, the BJP enters the current contest from a position of strength but not without challenges.
Party leaders privately concede that retaining a similar tally will not be easy this time, with stiff competition anticipated in at least a couple of constituencies.
Despite the undercurrent of anti-incumbency, the BJP enjoys a clear organisational and resource advantage. The party’s campaign machinery has been in overdrive, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant personally criss-crossing the taluka to address public meetings and energise party workers.
The BJP has also leveraged its position in power to manage internal dissent, deploying a mix of persuasion and pressure to ensure party unity. A key plank of the BJP’s outreach has been the 'Mhaje Ghar' housing scheme. Even as the scheme faces a legal challenge, the party continues to aggressively project it as a flagship welfare initiative, banking on beneficiary support to offset voter fatigue.
Local MLAs, sarpanchas and panchayat members have been mobilised to back party candidates, reinforcing the BJP’s ground-level presence.
The biggest uncertainty for the ruling party remains anti-incumbency, which could impact outcomes in closely fought seats. However, a fragmented opposition appears to be working to the BJP’s advantage, as has often been the case in past elections.
Among opposition parties, the Congress, despite internal differences and a delayed announcement of candidates, has managed to mount a spirited challenge in select pockets of Bardez.
The party is said to be putting up a strong fight in constituencies such as Aldona, Anjuna, Reis Magos and Calangute. Whether the Congress can withstand the BJP’s superior organisational strength and financial muscle, however, remains an open question.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which began its campaign earlier than its rivals, is also expected to put up a competitive show. While the party has built visibility in several areas, its ability to translate campaign momentum into electoral victories will be closely watched.
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), though not seen as a frontrunner, is likely to influence outcomes by cutting into the opposition vote share, a factor that could indirectly benefit the BJP in tight contests.
Adding another layer of intrigue is the independent candidacy of Kavita Kandolkar in Colvale, backed by former MLA Kiran Kandolkar. The candidate has run an aggressive campaign and is expected to figure prominently in the final count.
As campaigning enters its final stretch, Bardez taluka is shaping up as a key indicator of shifting political currents. The ZP results here are likely to be closely analysed for signals ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, particularly on whether the BJP can maintain its dominance or if opposition parties are beginning to claw back lost ground.
