Goa will go to the polls for the Zilla Parishad elections on 20 December 2025. However, some political parties are yet to announce their candidates. The BJP has already released its list in a few areas.
These elections are important as they come after the panchayat elections. In Goa, there is a two-tier system in rural areas, followed by municipal council elections in urban areas. The Zilla Parishad polls are often seen as a semi-final before the Assembly elections, as they help show the public mood and voter preference, even though they may not directly affect the final Assembly results.
This year, Opposition parties were hoping to form an alliance to take on the BJP. However, there is still no clear sign of such an alliance. There have been no proper meetings, joint discussions, or common decisions on selecting candidates. Instead, each party has released its own list, with little coordination or understanding among them.
Forming an alliance is not easy, as the parties have different ideologies and no common programme apart from opposing the BJP. In contrast, the ruling party already has its candidates ready and a clear plan in place.
With only a few days left for filing nominations, the task of finalising candidates is proving to be a major challenge for the Opposition.
