log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY DECEMBER 23, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 186 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Duffy fifer seals New Zealand’s series win over Windies >> 14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 BJP DEFEATED IN KHOLA BY 52-VOTE MARGIN, BUT RETAINS POINGUINIM MINISTER HALARNKAR'S CAMP SUFFERS TWIN DEFEAT IN TIVIM ‘REAL BODOL’ IN BENAULIM NOW, SAYS CONG AFTER TROUNCING AAP BJP ROUTED IN GUIRDOLIM AND DAVORLIM; FAILS IN NAVELIM TOO INDEPENDENT SHOCKS BJP-MGP ALLIANCE IN ARAMBOL BY 54 VOTES CLEAN SWEEP FOR BJP IN BICHOLIM, WINS ALL 4 SEATS COLVA OFFERS SLIM CONSOLATION TO AAM AADMI PARTY AGAINST ALL ODDS, CONGRESS WINS NUVEM SEAT ZILLA PANCHAYATS GO SAFFRON AGAIN  BJP-MGP DOMINATE BOTH DISTRICTS  CONG SEES REVIVAL IN SALCETE  DISAPPOINTING RESULTS FOR RGP AND AAP FINAL TALLY BJP 29 RGP CONG 10 GFP AAP PARTY VOTE SHARE VOTES VOTE SHARE BJP 2,50,149 40.63% Congress 1,16,565 18.93% RGP 56,331 9.15% AAP 32,995 5.35% GFP 30,573 4.96% MPG PARTY POLLED 03 IND 02 01 01 04 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) scored a decisive victory in the Goa Zilla Panchayat elections held on Monday, winning 32 of the 50 seats (BJP won 29 and MGP won three). On the Opposition side, the Congress managed to score a mini resurgence of sorts more than doubling their 2020 tally and securing ten seats. It's ally Goa Forward Party managed to win one seat. For the two other players in the Opposition -- Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) -- the results were disappointing. While RGP won two seats, both linked to their lone MLA, Viresh Borkar's St Andre assembly seat -- Santa Cruz and St Lawrence -- the AAP managed to win only Colva which is linked to its MLA Venzy Viegas' assembly seat of Benaulim. Independents also had a fair showing. Sunil Jalmi won DETAILED RESULTS ON PAGE 4 VICTORY MOMENT: Victorious BJP–MGP alliance candidates celebrate with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP leaders at the party office in Panaji on Monday. Narayan Pissrulenkar from Betqui–Candola, Kavita Kandolkar wife of former MLA, Kiran Kandolkar won from Colvale, Merciana Vas the wife of Independent Cortalim MLA Anton Vas from Cortalim and Radhika Palyekar from Arambol. The elections, conducted across all 50 constituencies using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines, had witnessed a record 70.81 per cent voter turnout, the highest since ZP polls began in 2005. The counting process through the day from 8 am till the last result of Torxem came in at 10 pm, was painstakingly slow yet exciting, perhaps because unlike assembly or parliamentary polls, these elections were conducted using ballot papers. By mid-morning, trends started emerging from several constituencies, with the BJP-MGP alliance establishing early leads in several constituencies. The Congress showed strength in pockets while independents surprised observers in Arambol and Betki-Candola. The manual counting process required multiple rounds, with each bundle of ballots scrutinised before results were declared. Election officials reported smooth proceedings, with no major disputes or disruptions, and party representatives acknowledged the fairness of the process. Strongholds and constituency wins The BJP registered key victories in Siolim, Anjuna, Calangute, Reis Magos, Taleigao, Karapur-Sarvan, Curti, Sanvordem, Sancoale, Usgao-Ganjem, Nagargo, Pale, Dharbandora and Xeldem, consolidating its hold across both districts. Congress showed pockets of resilience managing wins in Aldona and Sirsaim in the North and reclaiming a decisive hold on its former stronghold of Salcete by winning the Davorlim, Guirdolim, Nuvem, Curtorim. Benaulim, Navelim and Velim seats. Additionally it also won the Cola seat in Quepem. Independents also made their presence felt, with notable wins including Arambol, where local candidate Radhika Palyekar triumphed. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hailed the outcome as a “mandate for development and stability,” crediting party workers for their grassroots connect. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to describe the verdict as a “clear endorsement of good governance and progressive politics,” even as he thanked Goans for their support. >Continued on 9 Congress-GFP pact scripts landslide win in Salcete Saxttikars send message loud & clear THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Saxttikars once again rallied behind a united Opposition in the Zilla Panchayat elections, mirroring the voting pattern seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress–Goa Forward Party (GFP) combine registered a resounding victory in Salcete, winning eight of the nine seats at stake. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had emerged as a key challenger to the Congress in the minority-dominated taluka, suffered a major setback, managing to secure only the Colva seat. The Arvind Kejriwal–led party lost in the remaining seven seats it contested, including the crucial Benaulim and Velim constituencies—both represented by AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva in the Goa Legislative Assembly. The BJP, too, faced a humiliating defeat in Salcete, losing all three seats it contested. These included Guirdolim and Davorlim—both of which the ruling party had won in the 2020 Zilla Panchayat elections. The Revolutionary Goans Party and the Nationalist Congress Party, which con- BJP’s Bardez bastion wobbles MAPUSA: The Zilla Panchayat elections in Bardez have delivered a nuanced political message: while the BJP has retained control of the taluka, its long-held bastion has clearly shown signs of strain, even as the Congress has staged a modest but politically significant recovery and new players have begun to reshape the opposition space. The BJP won six of the nine ZP seats in Bardez – Calangute, Siolim, Anjuna, Socorro, Penha-de-Franca and Reis Magos.  >> See pg 3 Tiswadi verdict shows BJP’s control PANAJI: The results of the Zilla Panchayat elections in the five seats of Tiswadi taluka -- Taleigao, St Cruz, St Lawrence, Chimbel and Corlim -- have reinforced the BJP’s dominance with the RGP managing to assert its local hold in the assembly segment of its lone MLA Viresh Borkar. Out of the five seats, the BJP secured victories in Taleigao, St Cruz and Corlim while RGP won the two seats of St Cruz and St Lawrence linked to Borkar's St Andre.  >> See pg 3 tested four and three seats respectively, failed to open their accounts. Several heavyweight Independent candidates were also shown the door by voters. Among those defeated were former Zilla Panchayat chairpersons Nelly Rodrigues and Maria Rebello, as well as members of the influential Dominic Gaonkar family, which lost the Raia seat after representing it for two decades. The Congress surge in its traditional stronghold resulted in the party winning seven seats, while the Goa Forward Party opened its account in Salcete for the first time by securing the Raia seat. While the BJP–MGP alliance is poised to return to >Continued on 9 BJP triumphs in 29 seats, but Cliffhanger results keep Solo gamble misfires; AAP, candidates on the edge RGP fail to make a mark falls short of its 2020 tally COULD MANAGE ONLY 32 EVEN WITH SUPPORT OF MGP Margins dip below 100 in 5 seats HOPE OF EXPANDING FOOTPRINT SUFFERS SETBACK THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Despite the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remaining the single largest force by winning 29 seats, their drop in number from 33 seats in 2020, cannot be ignored. Even with the support of alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), BJP could manage only 32 that still fall short of its 2020 standalone performance. A major blow for the BJP came in six constituencies -Aldona, Sirsai, Betqui-Khandola, Davorlim, Guirdolim and Khola -- where the party failed to retain seats it had won earlier. Significantly, all these seats were lost to the Congress, except for Betqui-Khandola -- where independent candidate swept it -- which has emerged as the principal beneficiary of the BJP’s erosion, managing a clean sweep in these segments. ON PAGE 5 FIR over fake health cert in Birch case MAPUSA: A health certificate used to obtain the initial trade licence for the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub was found to be forged, prompting Mapusa Police to register an FIR against the company owned by the Luthra brothers. Luthras get 4 more days police custody MAPUSA: A Mapusa court extended the police custody of the Luthra brothers by four days in connection with the fatal fire tragedy at the club. „„BJP failed to retain resented by Halarnkar Aldona, Sirsai, & Gaude prove Betqui-Khandoembarrassing la, Davorlim, „„BJP failed WHERE Guirdolim and to convert BJP Khola Assembly-level FALTERED presence into „„Losses point to a clear decline Zilla victories in BJP’s grassroots „„Despite expectasupport tions, BJP could not wrest „„Defeats in areas repthe Colvale ZP seat COMPARATIVE DATA OF 2020 AND 2025 ZILLA POLLS  >>SEE PG 9 Two of these defeats are particularly embarrassing for the ruling party, as they involve constituencies represented by sitting BJP MLAs Nilkhant Halarnkar and Govind Gaude. The inability of the party to convert Assembly-level influence into Zilla Panchayat victories points to disconnect between leadership and voters at the grassroots level, where local issues often outweigh state or national narratives. The BJP also faced disappointment in Colvale, represented by sitting MLA Nikhant. Although the Colvale ZP seat had never formally been with the BJP, the party was widely seen as being in a position to wrest control this PANAJI The Zilla Panchayat elections in Goa witnessed high drama in at least five constituencies where candidates from the BJP, Congress, AAP and Independents had to sweat it out till the final round of counting, with victory margins remaining under 100 votes. In Rivona, the contest turned into a party duel, with BJP candidate Rajeshree Gaonkar narrowly defeating Congress nominee Sahidnya Gaonkar by just 19 votes, making it one of the closest finishes of the elections. Winner Rajeshree secured 6,329 votes against 6,310 votes managed by Sahidnya. A similar nail-biting finish >Continued on 9 A CLOSE C A LL RIVONA: BJP’s Rajeshree Gaonkar edged past Congress’ Sahidnya Gaonkar by just 19 votes KHOLA: Congress candidate Sumitra Pagi defeated BJP’s Tejal Pagi by 52 votes COLVA: AAP’s Antonio Fernandes stunned Nelly Rodrigues (Ind) by 73 votes SIRSAI: Congress defeated BJP with a razor-thin 79-vote margin ARAMBOL: BJP–MGP alliance candidate lost by 54 votes >Continued on 9 PANAJI The results of the Goa Zilla Panchayat elections have dealt a blow to the ambitions of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), both of which had hoped to expand their rural footprint and gone solo. Despite contesting vigorously, with its National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi campaigning, the AAP managed to secure a sole victory in Colva linked to the assembly segment of its Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas. Viegas however failed to retain the second seat of his assembly segment losing Benaulim to the Congress. RGP did slightly better winning both the seats linked to St Andre assembly segment represented by its lone MLA Viresh Borkar -- St Cruz and St Lawrence. The performance of AAP ON PAGE 3 AAP fails to find footing in Bardez, polls lowest across taluka First ZP outing, big impact: RGP strikes chord in Bardez and RGP highlights the difficulty faced by these new parties to break through in a political landscape dominated for decades by the older parties -- BJP and Congress. For AAP and RGP, the outcome underscores the challenge of translating visibility and social media traction into grassroots electoral success. AAP, which has positioned itself as a governance-focused alternative, had campaigned on promises of clean politics and improved local services. However, its limited organ- izational presence in Goa’s villages appears to have hampered its ability to mobilize voters. Similarly, RGP, which has built its identity around regional pride and protection of Goan interests, struggled to convert its rhetoric into widespread electoral gains. Political analysts note that the setback reflects the entrenched strength of BJP’s rural machinery and the Congress’s residual pockets of influence. The inability of AAP and RGP to secure more seats raises questions about their longterm viability in Goa’s competitive political arena. The verdict suggests that while both parties may continue to shape discourse, their immediate challenge lies in building sustained grassroots networks. Without deeper penetration into village-level politics, their aspirations of emerging as credible alternatives remain distant. Zilla results fuel rival claims across Goa’s political landscape Verdict reflects people’s faith in governance: PM PANAJI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the BJP–MGP (NDA) alliance’s performance in the Zilla Panchayat elections in Goa, saying the verdict reflected the people’s faith in good governance and progressive politics. In a message congratulating the alliance, the Prime Minister said Goa had once again stood firmly with development-oriented governance. “Goa stands with good governance and with progressive politics,” he said. CM credits double-engine sarkar for clear victory PANAJI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday thanked the people of rural Goa for reposing faith in the party following party’s clear victory in the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, asserting that the results reflect a clear endorsement of the BJP-led NDA government and its policies. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the NDA has secured control of both North and South Goa Zilla Panchayats with a clear majority. Congress upbeat over its improved performance PANAJI: The Indian National Congress on Monday expressed satisfaction over its improved performance in the 2025 Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections in Goa, claiming the results reflected growing public disenchantment with the BJP-led government in the State. In a statement, AICC in-charge for Goa Manikrao Thakare said the Congress had increased its ZP tally from four seats in the 2020 elections to ten seats this year, even as counting was still underway. Yuri thrilled, says united Oppn need of the hour MARGAO: Buoyed by the party’s strong performance in the Zilla Panchayat elections, particularly in its stronghold of Salcete, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao has unveiled his mantra for the 2027 Assembly elections: opposition parties must set aside their differences and work together to defeat the BJP. Alemao stated that all opposition parties must come together for the 2027 Assembly elections if Goa and its people are to win. Vijai bats for Oppn alliance, says ZP was just a trailer MARGAO: An upbeat Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai has termed the impressive performance by the Opposition alliance as a trailer, saying the real picture will come in the 2027 Assembly election if the Opposition alliance goes to the polls with right strategy and planning. Saying GFP did not do any magic in winning the Raia seat or ensuring victory of Congress Davorlim candidate, he said the party only channelized anger against BJP. >> Details on pg 2