The assembly poll in Goa has thrown up an unusual verdict that though seems to favour the BJP is still fraught with deficiencies that do not augur well for the incumbent dispensation. Just like in 2017, the BJP polled just a shade over 33 per cent of the vote share, but its strike rate improved from 13 to a high of 20, with several close shaves that could have gone either way. Even now in the 2022 election, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was given a scare by Dharmesh Saglani of the Congress. Although on the surface BJP seems to have won by a comfortable, the victory is jittery and it is not a mandate of the Pramod Sawant in the real sense. On the other side, the Aam Aadmi Party managed to open its account by winning two seats. Revolutionary Goans also impressively bagged one seat, MGP 2 and Independents 3. However, Michael Lobo proved a point by helping Congress win 4 seats out of 7 in Bardez. Comparatively, Babush Monserrate trying to tighten his grip on Tiswadi had to be satisfied with just two wins for the BJP. It was disheartening to see Elvis Gomes, a former Commissioner of CCP, lose from Panaji. He had the knowledge and experience about the needs of the decaying capital city. People of Goa would be very sad that a leading environmentalist and activist Capt Viriato was unable to make it to the Goa Assembly. Sadly, Mauvin Godinho polled 7500 votes but Capt Viriato fought gallantly in Dabolim losing with a meagre margin.
