Clean sweep for BJP in Bicholim

BICHOLIM

The BJP registered a clean sweep in Bicholim on Monday, winning all four Zilla Panchayat seats of Latambarcem, Karapur, Mayem and Pali.

The BJP candidates who won were Padmakar Malik (Latambarcem), Mahesh Sawant (Karapur), Kunda Mandrekar (Mayem) and Sundar Naik (Pali).

Counting of votes began at 8 am at the Gymkhana Hall of Zantye College at Vathadeo under the supervision of Election Officers Shrikant Pednekar and Omkar Mandrekar.

Counting was first taken up for the Latambarcem ZP constituency, followed by Karapur, Mayem and Pali. Adequate police force was deployed at the venue as party workers and supporters gathered outside the counting hall.

KARAPUR

Mahesh Sawant emerged victorious in the Karapur ZP constituency, defeating his nearest rival, independent candidate Advocate Ajay Prabhu Gaunkar, by a margin of 1,744 votes.

Sawant polled 6,234 votes, followed by Ajay Prabhu Gaunkar (Independent – 4,490 votes), Swapnil Fadte (Goa Forward – 1,622 votes), Raj Gaunkar (Independent – 210 votes) and Anil Naik (Independent – 265 votes).

Sawant attributed his victory to the Centre and State government schemes and the support of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and local MLA Premendra Shet. “This victory reflects the hard work of our party workers and the trust shown by the people,” he said.

Party workers celebrated the win and offered prayers at a temple. MLA Premendra Shet congratulated Sawant and said the party would work to meet the expectations of the people.

LATAMBARCEM

In a closely fought contest, BJP candidate Padmakar Malik won the Latambarcem ZP seat by defeating independent candidate Megshyam Raut by 894 votes.

Malik secured 6,694 votes, while Raut polled 5,800 votes and Krishnarao Rane (Independent) received 960 votes.

Malik credited his victory to the support of the BJP government, the efforts of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye and party workers. Dr Shetye said the result reflected public confidence in the BJP’s policies and development work.

MAYEM

BJP candidate Kunda Mandrekar won the Mayem ZP constituency with a lead of 3,413 votes. She polled 6,250 votes, while her nearest rival Radhika Kalangutkar of the Goa Forward Party secured 2,837 votes. Radhika Korgaonkar (Independent) polled 2,804 votes and Parpet de Souza (AAP) secured 660 votes. Mandrekar thanked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and party workers for their support and said she would focus on the development of the constituency.

Party workers celebrated the victory with a procession. MLA Premendra Shet said the win was the result of the dedicated efforts of BJP workers.

PALI

BJP candidate Sundar Naik won the Pali ZP constituency by a huge margin of 9,251 votes.

Naik polled 10,914 votes, while his nearest rival, Bhanudas Naik of the Congress, secured 1,663 votes.

Naik credited his victory to the support of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, development work in the constituency and the efforts of party workers.

BJP leader Sulakshana Sawant said the BJP’s victory in all four constituencies of Bicholim taluka showed the party’s strong grassroots support.