BJP Dominates CCP Elections in Panaji with Significant Wins
The recent Panaji Municipal Corporation elections saw the BJP emerge victorious, securing 27 seats and demonstrating a strong presence across various wards. With a remarkable voter turnout and key victories, the BJP has set the stage for shaping the urban agenda ahead of the state elections. Despite some narrow wins for the opposition, the BJP's dominance remains evident. This article delves into the election results, highlighting significant victories and the implications for future political dynamics in Goa.
Mar 13, 2026, 15:55 IST
Counting of Votes Commences for CCP Elections
The counting for the Panaji Municipal Corporation (CCP) elections began on March 13 (Friday) at 8:00 AM at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium. Voting concluded smoothly on March 11, with a remarkable turnout of 69.07%, including 81.94% in Ward 23. A total of 69 candidates contested across 30 wards, utilizing 48 polling booths, with reservations for women (10 wards), OBC (8), and ST (1). The BJP's 'Babush' Monserrate panel achieved a resounding victory, securing 27 seats and defeating the challenge posed by Utpal Parrikar's Ami Panjikar.
BJP's Strong Performance Boosted by Key Ward Victories
The election results showcased a strong performance by BJP candidates. Shaini Chopdekar triumphed over Ami Panjikar's Suraj Rohidas Naik in Ward 15; Kishor Shastri won against Sudin Kamat in Ward 5; Krishna Ramdas Shirodkar emerged victorious in Ward 18 against Ashish Ranganath Nagwekar; Asmita Kerkar defeated Pranjal Prajeet Naik in Ward 16; Varsha Hari Shetty claimed victory in Ward 12 over Brijesh Vasudev Kawlekar and Shabnam Khan; Prasad Amonkar secured Ward 10 from Vishnu Naik; Yutika Jamboulikar won Ward 1 against Roshan Martins and Damini Raghveer Kunkolinkar; Uday Vaman Madkaikar defeated Neelkanth Chari in Ward 13; Nikita Naik won Ward 19 against Deodita Viana Pereira; Kabir Philip Pinto Makhija took Ward 9 from Surendra Vladimir Antonio Angelo De Monte Furtado; and Prajot Santosh Vaiganakar won Ward 14 against Madan Shambhu Faterpekar.
Ami Panjikar's Notable Moments Amidst Defeat
Despite the losses, Ami Panjikar managed to secure a narrow victory in some areas: Leonid Furtado defeated BJP's Sanjeev Desai in Ward 7, and Jack Ajit Sukheja narrowly won against BJP's Denis Edward Francis George in Ward 17 by just 2 votes. The BJP maintained its control and shaped the urban agenda for Panaji ahead of the state elections, although the unity of the opposition posed a challenge to its strength.