Soiru Velip
Panaji : Despite several civic issues in the capital city and protests in different parts of the state in the run-up to the elections, the Babush-BJP backed panel’s victory is being seen as significant.
Babush’s ‘For a Progressive Panaji’ panel won 27 of the 30 seats, accounting for about 90 per cent of the corporation. The ‘Ami Panjekar’ panel supported by Utpal Parrikar, son of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, won three seats.
In the 2021 CCP elections, the Babush-BJP supported panel had won 25 seats. This time it secured two additional seats. One difference is that in 2021, Congress had fielded some candidates and the Monserrate panel had won 25 seats. This time, Congress and AAP came together and supported Utpal’s panel. The split of votes was not much, but despite that Monserrate secured 27 seats.
Utpal said that although his panel won only three seats, his vote share in the Panaji constituency remains intact compared with the 2022 Assembly election.
Political analysts said the results reflect Monserrate’s strong political network in Panaji despite challenges and criticism.
They also said the outcome shows the need for Utpal Parrikar to build a stronger grassroots network rather than relying on his father’s legacy.
In the 2022 Assembly election, Utpal had contested as an independent against Monserrate, who was contesting on a BJP ticket. Monserrate secured 6,787 votes while Parrikar polled 6,071 votes, winning by a margin of 716 votes.
Monserrate is one who would always want to win big. The last Assembly election result, in that sense, was a setback for him.
He knew that though he was the BJP candidate in the 2022 Assembly election, a sizeable number of BJP karyakartas who were earlier strongly with
Manohar Parrikar backed Utpal, leaving him high and dry. “He worked on them well over the last four years, helping them and interacting with them on a regular basis,” one of his supporters said, adding that Friday’s result was there for all to see.
Many of the people and politicians who had alleged that women should be scared to move out in Panaji were in his camp this time.
It was also not a surprise to see him attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the RSS at Azad Maidan last year, saying he was invited by one of their leaders.
A political analyst said that Monserrate understands politics much better than some veterans and knows exactly what move to make, when and how. In the last four years, he has also given jobs to many, sources said, adding that with all that he has done in the last four years, he stands in a better position to face the electorate in 2027 than in 2022.
‘This is trailer of next yr’s elections’
After the BJP-backed panel led by Minister and Panaji MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate secured a sweeping victory in the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the outcome was a trailer of the 2027 Assembly election and expressed confidence that the party will win the polls with 30 seats.
“This mandate reflects the faith of the people in our vision for a progressive, clean and well-governed Panaji and strengthens our resolve to work with even greater dedication for the welfare of every citizen,” he said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed gratitude to the people of Panaji for giving what he called a resounding mandate to the BJP-led panel in the CCP polls and for reaffirming their trust in the party’s commitment to serve the city and continue the momentum of all-round development.
