Close Contest Between Cong And BJP In Goa

Goa has 40 seats in its Assembly and was considered a Congress stronghold until Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2012. This year, it’s a four-way contest in the state between Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and debutant Aam Aadmi Party. Exit polls have predicted a hung assembly.

6.02pm: Congress is on its way to becoming the single largest party in the Goa Assembly. According to the EC website, Congress has won 15 seats and is leading in two. Even without the leads, Congress has two more than BJP’s 13 seats. However, at the press conference that BJP’s Amit Shah held earlier today, Shah claimed BJP would form a government in Goa.

3.20pm: It doesn’t get any closer than this. BJP and Congress have 11 seats and are leading in three seats each.

2.17pm: Independent candidate Govind Shepu has won from Priol. He happens to have three declared criminal cases against him and according to My Neta, Shepu has a diploma in fabrication technology and erection engineering.

12.04pm: Here’s the Election Commission’s update:

11.12am: Elvis Gomes, AAP’s CM candidate, is trailing at third position in Cuncolim. Congress is leading while an independent candidate is at the second position.

10:38am: Congress takes the lead over BJP and is leading in nine seats. Outlook reports that MGP’s Dipak Pawaskar defeats Ganesh Gaonkar of BJP. Reports say Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has left the counting the centre.

10.00am: Leads are in for 15 out of 40 seats. Congress is leading in eight seats and BJP is leading in three, according to Economic Times.

8.54am: Counting has begun on all seats. Here’s what the exit polls predicted for Goa:

7.43am: As election summaries go, let’s give a prize to motorbike pilot Kamlakanth for this statement: “Sabne net feka hain. Machli lekin bahut difficult lagta (Everyone’s cast their nets, but catching the fish is difficult).” The fish in question? Voters. Counting begins at 8am.