In Goa's zila panchayat polls, the ruling BJP-MGP alliance won 32 of 50 seats, while Congress secured 10. Voting took place on Saturday with a record 70.8 per cent turnout, and results were declared on Monday. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hailed it as a victory for the NDA.
In the Goa zila panchayat elections, the BJP clinched 29 seats, with ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party securing three. Congress gained 10 seats, its partner Goa Forward Party one, the Aam Aadmi Party held its single seat, Revolutionary Goans Party took two, and four independents were elected. In North Goa, BJP won 18, Congress two, RGP two, MGP one, and independents two. In South Goa, a traditional Congress bastion, BJP got 11, Congress eight, MGP two, GFP and AAP one each, and independents two.
The polls, held on Saturday, saw a record 70.8 per cent voter turnout—the highest in rural body elections since 2005. In 2020, BJP had won 33 seats. At a Monday evening press conference, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated, “This is a victory of the NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have won both the district panchayats with a simple majority. I congratulate all the victorious leaders and assure them that they will work for development. I thank all the rural voters of Goa for reposing their faith in our party and government.”
BJP Goa President Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik noted that opposition claims of EVM tampering were debunked as ballot papers were used. He added, “The results have indicated that there is no alternative to the BJP… This shows that people have true faith in the BJP.”
Congress expressed delight at its “strong performance.” All India Congress Committee Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare said in a statement that the party increased from four seats in 2020 to nine this time, signaling a grassroots resurgence following the 2024 South Goa Lok Sabha win. He remarked that Goan voters are weary of BJP's empty promises and divisive politics, predicting momentum for the 2027 assembly elections.
