Beating the odds, women candidates make a mark even in unreserved seats

Margao/Mapusa: Mary alias Maria Menezes emerged from the zilla panchayat counting hall at Peddem stadium on Monday with tears in her eyes. She not only won the Aldona ZP seat for the Congress, snatching it from the sitting ZP member belonging to the BJP, but did so from a seat unreserved for women.

She wasn’t alone. Several women candidates made their mark against the odds, even registering wins from constituencies unreserved for women.


In Colvale, Kavita Kiran Kandolkar won the ZP seat as an independent, defeating candidates fielded by the sitting BJP MLA of the area, Nilkanth Halarnkar.

“I am so overwhelmed that I am unable to recall even the names of all the workers to thank them. I feel like crying out of happiness. Several people called me up and said I should not worry and that they would silently vote for me,” said Menezes.

The Benaulim ZP seat was won by Congress candidate Luiza Rodrigues, who said it was not an easy path against the candidate backed by the sitting AAP MLA.

“It was very tough for me to win this seat because there is a sitting MLA and a sitting ZP belonging to AAP in Benaulim. My win is a clear message to AAP that Congress is back. This result is a precursor to the upcoming 2027 assembly polls and we are fighting to bring Congress back,” said Rodrigues.

Even in seats reserved for women, some candidates, like Inacina Pinto, Goa Forward Party’s Raia candidate, were up against the might of ruling party candidates.

“It was very tough. I moved from house to house on several days and heard the people’s grievances. I am very happy that people saw my effort and I thank them for making me win with such a big margin,” said Pinto.

Congress’ Chimbel candidate Sejal Kalangutkar, 25, a lawyer by profession, lost the seat. However, she said the opportunity to contest came easily to her and campaigning was made easier with the party’s dedicated supporters. She added that the only real challenge for her as a first-time woman contestant was the gruelling campaigning, which often stretched late into the night.

“The opportunity came walking to me from the party, which was looking for a young, able and educated professional as its candidate,” said Kalangutkar.

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