PANAJI
The Goa BJP on Sunday announced its first list of 19 candidates for the December 20 Zilla Panchayat elections, becoming the second political party to declare its nominees after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The upcoming polls are being viewed as a crucial litmus test for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, as the ZP outcome is expected to reflect grassroots support and organisational strength.
The BJP, which is in coalition with MGP, declared its first list of candidates that included- four women, three scheduled tribes (ST), two candidates from other backward class (OBC), one from Scheduled Caste (SC) and nine general.
The sitting ZP member, a former North Goa ZP chairperson and son of Union Minister of State Shripad Naik, Siddhesh (Corlim) is among the 19 candidates.
In North Goa, BJP has fielded Sapna Mapari in Colvale, Sagar Maulankar in Sirsaim, Franzilia Rodrigues in Calangute, Amit Asnodkar in Socorro, Reshma Bandodkar in Reis-Magos, Sandeep Salgaonkar in Penha-de-France, Raghuvir Kuncolienkar in Taleigao, Padmakar Malik in Latambarcem, Sundar Naik from Pale, Namdev Chari in Honda, Nilesh Parwar in Querim, Premnath Dalvi in Nagargao, Sameksha Naik from Usgao-Ganje and Shramesh Bhonsle in Betqui-Khandola.
In South, the candidates are Pritesh Gaonkar in Curti, Mohan Gaonkar from Sanvordem, Shidharth Gauns Dessai from Zeldem and Sunil Gawas from Sancoale.
