Over 69% turnout; ballot boxes sealed; Babush, Utpal camps add political edge; results on March 13
Electors stand in a queue in one of the wards to cast their votes in the CCP elections in Panaji on Wednesday.
PANAJI
Polling for the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections concluded on Wednesday, marking an important day for the capital’s roughly 35,000-strong electorate.
Across 30 wards, 69 candidates contested for seats, with voters turning out in significant numbers to elect their 30 new councillors.
Voting began at 8 am and continued until 5 pm at 48 polling booths spread across the city.
Some wards had a single booth, while larger wards were allotted two to manage the flow of voters. By the close of polling, turnout had crossed 69 per cent (69.02%), reflecting steady participation throughout the day.
According to official figures, 22,445 votes were cast, including 10,575 men and 11,870 women. The ballot boxes were sealed soon after, with counting scheduled for March 13 at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium.
The day unfolded in phases. By 2 pm, officials reported that 15,546 votes had already been cast, recording a turnout of nearly 48 per cent. The pace picked up in the final hours, pushing the overall turnout past the halfway mark and eventually settling at above 69 per cent.
Election staff reported no major disruptions, and polling concluded without incident although incidents where tension briefly prevailed in and outside polling booths were reported in some wards.
Babush vs Utpal political hue
While civic elections are often routine, this year’s contest carried a high political profile with several prominent leaders having campaigned vigorously, turning the local polls into a stage for larger political battles.
Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate was seen canvassing for his panel, while Utpal Parrikar, son of the late Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, lent support to the Ami Panjekar panel.
Opposition leaders also made their presence felt with Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, and AAP leaders Venzy Viegas and Valmiki Naik conducting door-to-door outreach in some key wards.
The contests themselves were closely fought. Ward 9 saw Surendra Furtado face Kabhir Pinto Makhija, while Ward 6 featured Dr Sheetal Naik against Bento Lorena. In Ward 13, Uday Madkaikar took on Nilkant Chari.
Mayor Rohit Monserrate’s battle in Ward 4 (Caranzalem) turned into a three-cornered fight with the late entry of Agnelo Silveira.
Ward 17, covering Fontainhas, Alto-Guimaraes, and Altinho, drew attention with Jack Sukhija, grandson of Goa’s iconic political figure Dr Jack de Sequeira, contesting against BJP-backed incumbent Edward Jorge.
The atmosphere across Panaji reflected both civic duty and political energy. Voters queued patiently, many arriving early to avoid the afternoon rush.
Campaigning in the run-up to polling day had been intense, with candidates and their supporters visible across neighbourhoods. The presence of heavyweight leaders underscored the stakes, even in a municipal election.
With polling now complete, attention shifts to the counting of votes on March 13, with the outcome determining the composition of the CCP council for the next term, shaping decisions on urban planning, infrastructure, and local governance in the capital.
For now, Panaji waits, as ballot boxes lie sealed and anticipation builds over who will emerge victorious in this spirited civic contest.
