Goa: BJP panel sweeps Panaji civic body polls, bags 27 out of 30 seats

A panel led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a sweeping victory in the elections to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) in Goa on Friday, clinching most of the wards in the civic body.

BJP Minister Atanasio Monserratte-led panel won on 27 out of 30 seats, while the panel floated by Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar, could manage only three seats.

The polls took place on March 11, while the counting of votes began this morning.

CCP mayor Rohit Monserratte won from the BJP panel, while hospitality entrepreneur and President of Travel and Tours Association of Goa, Jack Sukhija, won from the Parrikar-led panel.

Parrikar had floated his panel with the support of the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and independents.

Reacting to the victory, Monserratte said that he was expecting to win all 30 seats, considering the development that was undertaken in the capital city.

He said that the BJP panel will continue working for the people.

Parrikar said that while the results were not what they had hoped for, this journey was never only about winning seats.

“It was about bringing citizens together to talk about the future of Panaji - about better planning, transparency and accountable Government that truly puts people first,” he said.

“We will continue to engage with citizens, raise issues that matter and work constructively to address the challenges our city faces,” he added.