Silent losers, roaring winners and garlands all around

Margao/Mapusa/Panaji: A garland seller spotted an opportunity inside the zilla panchayat (ZP) counting centre at the Matanhy Saldana Administrative complex in Margao and made the most of it. On Saturday morning, the complex was brimming with Goa Forward Party (GFP) supporters, buoyed by the early win announced for the party’s Raia candidate. Supporters steadily picked up garlands from the seller as victory celebrations began to build.

BJP supporters, meanwhile, were largely absent or chose to quietly observe the emerging trends.


At around 1pm, they similarly watched in silence as RG St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar and party president Manoj Parab broke into celebrations following the party’s victory in the Santa Cruz seat. By evening, however, the tables turned dramatically. BJP supporters found much to cheer about, while the opposition receded into the background.

“It is a convincing victory for us in Reis Magos, just like the one we saw in Socorro. The voter has chosen development. It was a test as the opposition tried to defame us, but I told them we would give our answer through results. You will see us doubling our efforts ahead of the 2027 assembly polls,” said Saligao BJP MLA Kedar Naik after the party’s Reis Magos candidate Reshma Sandeep Bandodkar won.

Party workers cheered with a giant saffron lotus, scarves in party colours, and winning candidates and sitting MLAs weighed down by garlands. Just a few metres away, when Congress candidate won the Aldona seat, celebrations were far more restrained, though emotionally charged.

“We got to hear the people’s voice and they have rejected BJP. I thank all supporters, including the silent voters. Did BJP win anywhere on its own? It was a win by division of votes,” said Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira.

RG’s Viresh Borkar alleged that the governing side left no stone unturned, turning every small victory into an uphill task for the opposition. “They did not give us sufficient time. We were not allowed to use banners and money distribution was happening. The CM, MP and party president campaigned here in Santa Cruz. Still, we defeated them because of our grassroots work,” he said.

Independent candidate Nelly Jose Rodrigues, who contested and lost the Colva seat, said independents face the biggest challenge, adding that ZP polls were more of a level-playing field when they were not fought along party lines.

“I am contesting after 10 years. I was the first chairperson when ZP was formed in the 2000s. I was a teacher then and needed just a week’s leave to campaign and still won. Now it is along party lines and has been my toughest election,” she said.

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