preliminary exit poll results There are suggestions that there is a tough fight between the BJP, Congress and other parties in the coastal state of Goa. According to the exit poll of CNX-India TV, BJP has got majority of seats in Goa. Most opinion polls have indicated that no single party is likely to get a clear majority.
Out of 40 seats, CNX has given BJP 16-22 seats, and Congress 11-17 seats, while AAP will be fielded 0-2 seats.
Meanwhile, another polling agency NewsX-Polstrat has given the BJP 17-19 seats just short of majority, while the Congress is likely to get 11-13.
The transfer of power in Goa so far has largely been between the Congress and the BJP, but election observers believe that after the February 14 assembly elections, smaller parties and newcomers are expected to play a key role in government formation. Chances are.
Since the last four Goa elections – since 2002 – it was only once that any party crossed the magic figure of 21 in the 40-seat assembly. The BJP was successful in achieving this feat only in 2012.
Apart from the traditional contenders – BJP and Congress – Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward Party (GFP), Trinamool Congress Party (TMC), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena, Krantikari Goa Party, Goencho Swabhiman Party , Jai Mahabharat Party and Sambhaji Brigade are in the fray. Apart from this, 68 independent candidates are also in the fray.
This time BJP is battling with 10 years of anti incumbency. This is also the first assembly election in which the BJP is contesting without former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who died in 2019. To add to this, the party is facing rebellion. Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal Parrikar is contesting as an independent after he was denied ticket from the Panaji seat.
Congress is contesting the election in alliance with GFP. While the Congress has fielded 37 candidates, three other candidates are in the fray on the ticket of ally GFP. However, this time West Bengal’s TMC is also in the fray. It has taken many Congress and NCP leaders from the state into its fold. The TMC is contesting the elections in alliance with the MGP, a regional force with influence in North Goa.
AAP, which contested all 40 seats in the 2017 Goa Assembly elections and lost 39, has made a determined effort this time. It has also wooed the influential Bhandari community and nominated its chief ministerial candidate from among them. For the first time in this state, Shiv Sena and NCP have formed an alliance. There are regional parties like the Revolutionary Goan’s Party (RGP).
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