Sancoale ZP election turns into prestige battle

VASCO
The quiet lanes of Sancoale have suddenly become one of the most politically charged turfs in South Goa, with nine candidates filing nominations and turning the Sancoale ZP elections into a prestige battle that is less about development and more about proving political supremacy.
What should have been a straightforward race has now evolved into a complex chessboard—full of rebels, loyalists, defectors, migrants, and two heavyweight leaders preparing for the battle.
At the centre of the storm is BJP’s Sunil Gawas, who walked into the fray with Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho’s full force behind him. Sancoale panch members, grassroots workers, and even former sarpanch Girish Pillai—a close friend who nearly won Cortalim as an independent—are lining up behind Gawas.
But unity, in this constituency, is only an illusion.
Because standing right opposite is the Congress candidate Vasant Naik, a former ZP member and a veteran figure from Bogmalo. Naik brings with him a reliable Congress vote base, support from panch members in Sancoale and Chicalim, and—more critically—the political firepower of South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, Mauvin’s arch rival.
Their direct clash adds an electrifying layer: whichever way Sancoale swings will double as a public scoreboard of one-upmanship between the two top leaders.
But the contest is nowhere near a two-way fight.
TMC has fielded former ZP Mariano Rodrigues, a seasoned player with deep roots and a family network that practically runs through the veins of Sancoale’s political ground.
Mariano’s past performance in assembly polls and the influence of his family and panch member brother make him a formidable spoiler—if not a dark horse.
And then enters the migrant vote wildcard: Rajesh Shetty, influential Kannadiga leader and social worker, banking on the incredible mobilisation witnessed during Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations. In a constituency with a heavy migrant population, Shetty’s vote pool cannot be underestimated.
But the twist—and perhaps the real earthquake—comes from Achut Naik, the BJP loyalist who quit the party after being denied a ticket. His anger is well-documented, his credentials strong, his hold over the temple community solid, and shockingly, several BJP loyalists and Chicalim panch members have quietly shifted towards him. For many in Sancoale, this election is their chance to “teach the party a lesson.”
Adding to the political calculations is sitting ZP member Anita Thorat. Elected unopposed in 2020, Thorat was dropped abruptly by the BJP despite a solid track record and a wide network through mahila mandals.
Her silence is loud, her absence conspicuous. Her disappointed supporters are now the floating vote bank that could tilt the scales—most likely towards Achut Naik, or perhaps stay home entirely. Either way, the BJP cannot afford this fracture.
Add in AAP and other independent candidates cutting into symbolic and personal votes—and the election resembles a political traffic jam more than a straight road.
With every camp confident yet deeply uncertain, Sancoale stands on the brink of one of its most unpredictable elections. The only thing certain is that the voters have options—many, confusing, and strategically placed—and the final verdict may leave even seasoned observers stunned.