Initial trends indicate close contest in Goa
Chief minister Pramod Sawant faced a tight fight to retain his Sanquelim seat with initial trends indicating his rival Dharmesh Saglani of the Congress having secured a narrow lead
PANAJI: It is neck and neck in Goa as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was leading on 17 and the Congress 13 of the 28 seats for which initial trends were available.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant faced a tight fight to retain his Sanquelim seat with initial trends indicating his rival Dharmesh Saglani of the Congress having secured a narrow lead. Congress’s Digambar Kamat looked set for victory from Margão in South Goa. He was leading by a comfortable margin.
In Panaji, Atanasio Monserrate (BJP) was leading against his nearest rival Utpal Parrikar, the son of late former chief minister Manohar Parrikar. Several BJP candidates, including deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavlekar, were trailing.
Former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who contested as an independent after the BJP denied him a ticket, was leading in Mandrem.
Voting in Goa was held on February 14 with 79.61% of the turnout. The counting started at 8 am. The BJP contested all 40 seats. The Congress contested 37 and left three seats for Goa Forward Party.