NT Reporter
Margao
The low-profile and largely complaint-free zilla panchayat election campaign across Goa concluded on Thursday, with 226 candidates—111 from North Goa and 115 from South Goa—set to contest 50 seats statewide.
A total of 40 independent candidates in South Goa and 23 in North Goa are contesting the elections, with their political futures resting solely in the hands of the electorate, which will shape the next chapter of ZP governance.
“Except for a minor complaint, which was promptly resolved, the ZP election campaign came to a close without incident,” said South Goa District Election Officer and Additional Collector III Vishal Kundaikar.
While the campaign began on a subdued note, activity intensified in the final days, with ruling and opposition legislators and senior party leaders rallying in support of their candidates. A noticeable grassroots push emerged towards the end, as parties stepped up efforts to secure votes, viewing the ZP elections as a ‘final’ and a ‘semi-final’ ahead of the early 2027 assembly elections.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP leaders inaugurated the campaign in both districts, highlighting the achievements of the government and the Mhaje Ghar Scheme, while promising rural development through the ZPs. The opposition comprising the Congress, Goa Forward Party (GFP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Revolutionary Goan Party (RGP) focused on alleged government mismanagement and corruption, lending political edge to the contest despite the ZPs having limited powers.
Door-to-door canvassing and word-of-mouth campaigning remained the dominant modes of outreach across the state, largely due to limited financial resources and the preference for direct engagement with the rural electorate. Public meetings were few, except for rallies addressed by AAP national leaders and former Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi Marlena, who campaigned in Velim and Betalbatim.
Congress leaders were less visible in Salcete taluka, with only a handful of meetings held in Quepem and Sanguem talukas. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and other Congress leaders concentrated their campaign efforts in North Goa.
GFP chief Vijai Sardesai campaigned for Congress candidates in Velim and elsewhere, apart from addressing a public meeting for his party candidate in Raia.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party lodged a formal complaint against independent candidate Nelly Rodrigues, alleging involvement in an “office of profit”. The complaint was examined by election authorities and addressed accordingly.
