MARGAO
With the dawn of the New Year, the countdown has begun for what is being billed as a fierce political battle in the upcoming Margao Municipal Council elections scheduled for April. Widely seen as a “semi-final” ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, the civic polls are expected to witness an intense contest between former alliance partners who have now turned political adversaries, besides new players, all vying for control of the 25-member civic body.
In fact, many say the Margao civic polls will set the stage for high-stakes political battle ahead of 2027 Assembly Elections.
Unlike the recently concluded Zilla Panchayat elections, the Margao civic polls will not be held on party lines. However, the political stakes remain exceptionally high, as the outcome will serve as a crucial test of strength for political parties, sitting MLAs, and party leaderships seeking to consolidate their influence and chart their political course ahead of the Assembly elections.
The Margao Municipal Council comprises 25 wards”11 each in the Margao and Fatorda Assembly segments, and three wards in the Housing Board area, which falls under the Curtorim Assembly constituency. This makes the election significant not only for Margao MLA and PWD Minister Digambar Kamat, Fatorda MLA and Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, and Curtorim Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, who is supported by the BJP, but also for BJP State President Damu Naik and other key political stakeholders.
The civic election will also be closely watched for the performance of new players such as Madganvcho Awaaz convenor Prabhav Naik. Additionally, political observers are keen to see how BJP leader Manohar Ajgaonkar and his brother Rajendra Ajgaonkar strategise and position themselves in the upcoming contest.
BJP eyes comeback after 25 yrs as political equations shift
BJP is banking on PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and BJP State president Damu Naik to win the upcoming Margao civic polls.
MARGAO: The last time the BJP’s Lotus symbol bloomed at the Margao Municipal building was 25 years ago in the 2000 civic elections. At the time, incumbent PWD Minister Digambar Kamat was with the BJP, which won the Margao Municipal Council with a comfortable majority.
Kamat’s subsequent exit from the BJP marked the beginning of a prolonged decline for the saffron party in the civic body. In the municipal elections held in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2021, the BJP failed to return to power. Panels floated by Congress MLA Digambar Kamat and Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai in the 2015 and 2021 election, successfully kept the BJP at bay, preventing the party from regaining a foothold in the council.
However, the political landscape has changed dramatically since 2022. Following Kamat’s defection to the BJP, the party staged a swift return to power in the Margao Municipal Council, with Congress councillors loyal to Kamat crossing over to the saffron fold the same year.
The BJP’s resurgence has been further bolstered by the election of former two-time Fatorda MLA Damu Naik as the party’s State president, a move that has given a much-needed boost to the party cadre, particularly in Fatorda.
Political observers say the Digambar Kamat“Damu Naik combination poses a formidable challenge to both the Goa Forward Party and the Congress in their bid to regain control of the civic body in the 2026 municipal elections.
Observers also note that the BJP is expected to enter the polls from a position of strength, backed by a solid organisational base across Margao and Fatorda, as well as in the three municipal wards falling under the Curtorim Assembly segment. Kamat’s entry into the party, sources add, has further consolidated the BJP’s position and enhanced its prospects in the upcoming civic battle.
Vijai gears up for municipal battle as alliance questions loom
Will Goa Forward’s Blue Brigade contain the saffron in the elections for the Margao civic body?
MARGAO: Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai appears raring to take on the challenge in the upcoming Margao Municipal Council elections, preparing to face friend-turned-political foe and PWD Minister Digambar Kamat, as well as his long-time political rival, BJP State President Damu Naik.
However, Sardesai faces a critical strategic dilemma”how to effectively counter the BJP’s growing strength across all 25 municipal wards. While the Goa Forward Party enjoys considerable influence in the Fatorda segment, which accounts for 11 municipal wards, as well as in the three wards falling under the Curtorim Assembly constituency, the bigger challenge lies in making inroads into the remaining 11 wards spread across the Margao Assembly segment.
Sardesai is well aware that control of the Margao Municipal Council hinges on securing a majority of at least 13 seats in the 25-member civic body, a feat that would be difficult without winning a few wards in Margao.
With the BJP consolidating its base in Margao, Sardesai’s path back to power in the civic body hinges on whether he can expand the party’s footprint beyond its traditional strongholds.
This has also brought to the fore key questions over possible alliances. Political observers are keenly watching whether Sardesai will choose to contest all 25 wards independently or opt for a tie-up with the Congress, following their joint contest in the recently held Zilla Panchayat elections.
In the event of a Congress-Goa Forward alliance, the seat-sharing arrangement is expected to be a contentious issue. Questions remain over whether the Goa Forward Party would concede any of the 11 Fatorda wards to the Congress, or alternatively, allow the Congress to focus on contesting the 11 wards in the Margao segment.
With the Goa Forward Party holding sway in Fatorda, Curtorim and parts of Margao, Sardesai’s electoral strategy and his approach towards a potential alliance with the Congress will be closely scrutinised as the Margao civic polls draw closer.
Cong seeks revival after Kamat exit
Will the Congress put its act together and get a foothold in the civic body once again in the 2026 polls?
Kamat’s exit has left the Congress without a towering leader in Margao, a vacuum further compounded by the defection of most members of the Congress block and frontal organisations, who merged with the BJP en masse.
In a bid to rebuild its presence in the city, the Congress inducted former Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Savio Coutinho, a move that has strengthened the party and provided it with a vocal presence against the ruling dispensation in the civic body.
The party also drew encouragement from its strong showing in Margao during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it led in booths that were traditionally considered Digambar Kamat’s strongholds. This performance has infused fresh confidence among party workers and leaders.
Further bolstering its ranks, the Congress inducted young city-based businessman Chirag Naik, signalling an attempt to combine experience with fresh faces as it prepares for the civic and Assembly polls.
However, key questions remain over the Congress’ electoral strategy. Political observers are keen to see whether Savio Coutinho and Chirag Naik will come together to float a united panel, how many seats the party will contest in the 25-member civic body, and whether the Congress will seek a share of seats in Fatorda”once its stronghold”in the event of a tie-up with the Goa Forward Party.
As the Margao civic elections draw closer, the Congress’ ability to address these questions may determine whether it can stage a meaningful comeback in the municipal arena.
