PANAJI: The BJP-backed panel led by Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate recorded a landslide victory in the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections, winning 27 of the 30 wards, including sitting Mayor Rohit Monserrate in Ward IV.
Despite the overwhelming win, the Ami Panjekar panel, supported by Utpal Parrikar, broke through in three wards. Opposition victories included Leonid Furtado in Ward VII, Jack Sukhija in Ward XVII, and Liberata Mendes E Achari in Ward XXIX.
Former Mayor Surendra Furtado lost Ward IX to BJP-backed Kabir Makhija. Commenting on his defeat, Furtado said, "The people of Panaji have decided that I should not be elected. I respect their verdict and the fate they have chosen for us."
Speaking after the results, Monserrate took a subtle dig at his rivals, saying, "A candidate should always roam on earth and not fly. We are at the mercy of the people; it is they who elect us. If we try to act too smart, people show how smart they are." While the three opposition wins were a minor setback, he added that the clear majority gives the council a strong mandate to move ahead and continue development initiatives across the city.
