"Confident of winning maximum seats," says Goa CM Pramod Sawant after casting vote in Zilla Panchayat polls

Speaking to reporters after voting, Sawant said polling started at 8 am and was being held across 50 constituencies. He expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's prospects in the elections, noting that the BJP is directly contesting 40 of the 50 seats.

"Voting for the Zilla Panchayat elections began at 8 am today, and it is happening across 50 constituencies with intense enthusiasm. We are confident. Goa BJP candidates are directly contesting in 40 of the 50 seats. At some places, we also supported our alliance partners. I am confident that we will win maximum seats," Sawant said.

Polling for the high-stakes Zilla Panchayat elections in Goa is underway across the state, with voting being held for all 50 seats. The elections will determine the fate of over 200 candidates, as nearly 8.68 lakh voters, including about 4.20 lakh men and 4.48 lakh women, are eligible to cast their ballots, according to the Goa State Election Commission (SEC).

Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm. For the smooth conduct of polling, the SEC has set up around 1,284 polling stations, with 658 located in North Goa and 626 in South Goa.

Unlike previous elections, electronic voting machines are not being used, and polling is being conducted through ballot papers. The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on December 22.

The Zilla Panchayat elections are being viewed as a crucial political contest ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, with the results expected to influence future alliances and electoral strategies in the state.

In the 2022 Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party with 20 seats, followed by the Congress with 11 seats. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Aam Aadmi Party won two seats each, while independents secured three seats and other candidates accounted for the remaining two. (ANI)