MARGAO
Goa Forward Party-backed Fatorda panel maintained its winning streak in the Fatorda area of the Margao Municipal Council by winning eight out of the 11 seats at stake, leaving the remaining three seats to BJP-backed Vibrant Margao.
While Goa Forward’s tally finally touched nine, after the party wrested ward 23 from the BJP, the regional party, however, failed to repeat the 2011 feat when it had made a clean sweep by winning all the 11 seats at stake in Fatorda.
While the Goa Forward candidates won in areas spread across Mungul, Ambaji, Davondem, Chandrawado, Borda and Pajifond, the Lotus bloomed in the Agalli-Borda-Gogol belt and in the Housing Board area.
In round one itself, the Goa Forward took an unassailable lead when its candidates won in all four wards, 1 to 4. The party, however, suffered a setback in round two when the party managed to win just a lone seat in ward 5 and conceded three wards, 6, 7 and 8, to the BJP.
In this round, the BJP came back from behind to challenge the regional party when it bagged three out of the four seats at stake.
The Goa Forward’s campaign, however, ended on a winning note when the party won in the remaining three wards, 9, 10 and 11, falling in the areas of Borda-Marlem, Borda-Holy Spirit and Pajifond, taking the tally of seats to 8-3.
On the other hand, the BJP and its leader Damu Naik had to settle for just three seats in Fatorda, even though the party was exuding confidence of winning minimum 5-6 seats, including wards 2, 9 and 10.
Addressing the media along with the party winners, GF Chief Vijai Sardesai said people have voted for a future ready Fatorda. “The people have proved that Team Goa represents true ambition of the people and stands for their needs and collective future until all Goans are able to fulfill their dreams,” he said, adding “the people of Fatorda have proved that development by consent is the way forward.”
