the goan I network
MARGAO
With a week to go for the March 22 Zilla Panchayat elections, can the ruling BJP and Congress win 12 and 13 seats respectively -- the bare minimum number required to rule the South Goa Zilla panchayat?
Or, will they have to fall back on MGP and Independents to reach the magic figure of 13 to establish its rule at the 25-member South Goa ZP?
Both the BJP and Congress are contesting in around 17 out of the 25 seats at stakes, with the BJP
gaining an upper hand over the Opposition party, by opening its account with an unopposed victory in Sancoale.
Take the case of BJP. The ruling party is contesting in almost all the seats, baring the seven seats in
minority Salcete. Since the BJP has already opened its account with the win at Sancoale, the BJP now requires only 12 more seats to retain power in South Goa.
On the other hand, the Congress needs 13 seats to stop the BJP from returning to power. The main
opposition party is in the fray in all the seats, except the seven seats in talukas of Ponda,
Dharbandora and Quepem, which the party has left to MGP and Independents to keep the BJP at bay.
This brings to the fore the moot question whether the two main political parties can form the South Goa ZP on their own or cobble up the magic figure with the help of the Independents and MGP.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, his deputy Chandrakant Kavlekar and senior party leaders have all
exuded confidence that the party will reach the magic figure on its own. “The BJP has opened its
account in South Goa by winning the Sancoale seat unopposed. The party is now contesting 17 seats and I am confident that the party will win majority to form the South Goa ZP”, the CM said.
Sawant’s deputy, Chandrakant Kavlekar echoed similar sentiments. “Though the BJP is not contesting only two out of the nine seats at stake in Salcete, the Party will form the South Goa Zilla Panchayat”, Kavlekar said. The deputy Chief Minister was silent on the moot question whether the party is banking on the Independents to cobble up the numbers, only saying the party will reach the magic figure without much of a problem.
South Goa district Congress President Joe Dias, however, begged to differ with the BJP leaders. “The Congress is confident of coming to power in South Goa. The party will put up a commendable show in our stronghold Salcete, which will give the party a big lead
over BJP”, Joe said.
Joe’s confidence is not entirely misplaced given that Salcete had in the recent past, including the 2017 Assembly election and the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, had strongly rallied behind the Congress.
The Opposition party, however, will have to grapple with the Independents factor in the ensuing Zilla poll battle. The Congress is also facing a tough battle in the two seats of Benaulim and Colva represented by NCP MLA Churchill Alemao.
Observers say Congress’ hopes of returning to power in South may go haywire if Independents in Velim, Navelim, Nuvem and Raia, besides NCP candidates in Benaulim and Colva get the better of the Opposition party.
That explains the Congress campaign in the minority stronghold, harping that a vote for the NCP or the Independents will bring back the BJP to power in South Goa.
