PANAJI: BJP has secured eight seats so far in the Goa Zilla Panchayat elections, with victories for Namdev Chari (Honda, Sattari), Shidharth Dessai (Xeldem), Franzilia Rodrigues (Calangute), Maheshwar Govekar (Siolim), Padmakar Malik (Latambarcem), Sameksha Naik (Usgao-Ganje), Mohan Gaonkar (Sanvordem), and Sunil Gawas (Sancoale). Its ally, MGP, won Quela with Ganpat Naik emerging victorious.
Congress and its ally Goa Forward Party have claimed four seats so far, with Floriano Fernandes (Davorlim) giving Congress a win over BJP in Rumdamol, Inacina Pinto (Raia) securing the GFP-Congress alliance a victory, and Sumitra Pagi (Cola) and Sanjay Velip (Guirdolim) winning on Congress tickets.
Other notable results include Independent candidate Radhika Palyekar winning Arambol, defeating contenders. In St Cruz, RGP candidate Esperanca Braganza pulled off a shock win over the sitting Congress ZP member. So far, the tally shows BJP dominating with eight seats, its ally MGP with one, Congress with three, GFP with one, RGP with one, and an Independent also securing one seat. Counting is ongoing, and more results are expected throughout the day.