BICHOLIM
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant may have fared below expectations after being re-elected in the Sanquelim constituency, but BJP is set to take control in all three seats in Bicholim taluka with one Independent candidate pledging support to the BJP.
Two new faces were elected in Bicholim taluka. While Independent candidate Dr Chandrakant Shetye proved to be a giant killer by defeating Speaker Rajesh Patnekar (BJP) and former MLA Naresh Sawal (MGP), Premendra Shet (BJP) was the other new face after winning in Mayem constituency.
Dr Chandrakant Shetye, however, handed over his letter of support to the BJP, thereby enabling BJP to control all three seats in Bicholim taluka.
Sawant fared below expectations and eventually won by a slim margin of 666 votes, after expecting a margin of about 5,000 votes. While Sawant polled 12,250 votes, his nearest rival Dharmesh Saglani (Congress) secured 11,584 votes.
Dr Shetye performed well in 4-5 urban areas of the Bicholim constituency, which was enough to edge past Naresh Sawal by about 400 votes.
In the Mayem constituency, BJP candidate Premendra Shet won by a comfortable margin of about 3,000 votes.
Incidentally, outgoing MLA Pravin Zantye (MGP) was placed fourth, after the Goa Forward Party and the Revolutionary Goans Party.
While Sawant is widely expected to be retained as chief minister, there are hopes that one ministerial post will go to an MLA from Bicholim taluka.
