Goa Panchayat Election Results 2017: Calangute's Michael Lobo-backed panel wins; Manohar Parrikar says result establishes BJP is main force

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that ‪‪Goa Panchayat Election Results 2017, announced today, have established that Bharatiya Janata Party is the main force in the state.

Meanwhile, the panel of Michael Lobo, the BJP legislator from Calangute, has swept the Parra panchayat with six panch members.

Talking to reporters after meeting winning candidates at his official residence, Parrikar told reporters: "Panchayat Election Results are much satisfying then the Assembly Election. Except for a very few pockets, the election has virtually established that the BJP is the main force and that too with a majority.”

He said in many panchayats, BJP has won almost all the seats.

"...But more important aspect which you will have to realise...Congress is wiped out," he said.

Parrikar said, "In some areas where it is not purely BJP workers, it is BJP plus coalition partners' candidates”.

The CM said that “the primary indications are we have won on sufficiently large number of seats. 90-95 percent of our workers have got elected. Very few have lost."

Parrikar said that the party believes in grassroot democracy.

"My only aspect is that while panchayat should get all the support, they should also discharge their duties. I have made it a rule that money is disbursed to them in 30 days.”

"Panchayat should do a lot of things, they have lot of powers but with the powers they also have responsibility," he said.

Parrikar said that the state government will involve them in Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan.

"In next one or two weeks, I will be calling their meeting and giving them task and support," he said.

A total of 80.33 percent voters cast their ballot in the Goa village Panchayat Elections held on Sunday. 83.16 percent voting was reported in North Goa district, while 77.86 percent voting was recorded in South Goa district.

The elections were held for 186 panchayat bodies consisting of 1,450 wards, out of which 540 have been reserved for scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (SC/ST) and other backward class (OBC) candidates and 490 for women including 323 in general category.

As many as 5,223 candidates were in fray and over 7.49 lakh people were eligible to cast their votes.

A total of 55 candidates were already elected unopposed.

(With Agency inputs)