Goa CM resigns as BJP-MGP combine win majority
06 Mar 2012
Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat met the governor and submitted his resignation even as counting for two constituencies, Saligao and Taleigao, was still on.
"I accept the verdict of the people and we are ready to sit in the opposition," Kamat said after results showed clear majority for the BJP-MGP combine.
The BJP-MGP alliance succeeded in taking the most out of anti-Congress sentiments arising from the scams that hit the ruling UPA at the centre through the right choice of candidates.
Out of the 40 seats, BJP and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party secured 17 seats so far and were leading in 4 and one seat, respectively.
BJP fielded catholic candidates in Salcette, a Congress bastion, to win six of the eight seats. BJP candidates Matanhy Saldanha, Michael Lobo, Glen Ticlo, Nilesh Cabral and Carlose Almeida defeated Congress stalwarts to wrest their seats.
BJP and its ally are ahead in 24 seats while Congress has won 8 seats and is leading in none.
Francisco Pacheco of Goa Vikas was elected from Nuvem.
Chandrakant Kavalekar of the Congress was declared elected from Quepem.
BJP state party president Lakshmikant Persheshar was among the first to be declared elected.
Ganesh Chandru Gaonkar of the BJP won from Sanvordem while BJP's Mahadev Narayanan Naik won from the Siroda constituency.
Other BJP leaders who have won include, Kiran Kandolkar from Tivim and Anant Shet from Maem and Ramesh Tawadkar.
The United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP) won 2 seats and remaining five seats have gone to the independents.
Congress ally NCP is leading in one place while it is trailing in five other seats.
| Goa Poll Result So Far | ||
| Party | Won | Leading |
| BJP (19) | 16 | 3 |
| Cong (8) | 8 | 0 |
| MGP (3) | 3 | 0 |
| Others (7) | 7 | 0 |
In the last assembly elections in 2007, the Congress had won 16 seats while the BJP managed to clinch 14 seats.
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