PANAJI
BJP took control in Ponda taluka after winning in three of the four constituencies, with the MGP having to settle for the lone Marcaim seat in the taluka.
While former chief minister Ravi Naik’s decision to join the BJP proved successful after he won in Ponda constituency, albeit in a nail-biting finish after a recount, BJP candidates in Priol and Shiroda constituencies won by small margins.
Former minister Govind Gaude, who contested from the BJP this time, won a second term from Priol constituency.
With losses in the two constituencies of Priol and Ponda, MGP’s ambition of playing a major role in the State’s politics and attempting to bargaining for plum portfolios in the new government has taken a serious dent, having won only two seats in the elections.
MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar continued his unassailable march in Marcaim and got elected for the sixth consecutive time, this time with a margin of over 9,000 votes.
For the MGP, the only other success was in Mandrem constituency, where its new face Jeet Arolkar won by a slim margin of around 800 votes and his success was largely due to a split in BJP. Ketan Bhatikar and Deepak Dhavalikar of MGP lost by wafer thin margins in Ponda and Priol constituency.
While MGP candidate Ketan Bhatikar lost by just 77 votes in Ponda, Deepak Dhavalikar lost in Priol constituency by just 213 votes.
With the MGP supporting the BJP and with BJP candidates Ravi Naik (Ponda), Subhash Shirodkar (Shirodkar) and Gawde (Priol) wining in Ponda taluka, it is widely expected that all 4 MLAs from Ponda taluka are expected to get cabinet berths.
In Shiroda, Revolutionary Goans Party candidate Shailesh Naik polled a sizeable 5,063 votes and AAP candidate Mahadev Naik got 6,133 votes. The winning candidate Subhash Shirodkar secured 8,307 votes, a comfortable lead of over 2,000 votes.
In Priol, the RGP candidate Vishvesh Naik also did fairly well with a substantial 2,517 votes.
The lotus bloomed in the mine affected constituency of Sanvorden, with BJP's Ganesh Gaonkar defeating former minister Deepak Pauskar. Some parts of Sanvordem constituency fall in Ponda taluka.
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DC BULLETS
EYEING CABINET BERTHS
With the MGP supporting the BJP and with BJP candidates Ravi Naik (Ponda), Subhash Shirodkar (Shirodkar) and Gawde (Priol) wining in Ponda taluka, it is widely expected that all 4 MLAs from Ponda taluka are expected to get cabinet berths.
MGP leader Sudin Dhavlikar continued his unassailable march in Marcaim and got elected for the sixth consecutive time, this time with a margin of over 9,000 votes.
While former chief minister Ravi Naik’s decision to join the BJP proved successful after he won in Ponda constituency, albeit in a nail-biting finish after a recount, BJP candidates in Priol and Shiroda constituencies won by small margins.
