With the BJP leading in 19 of the 40 seats in Goa, the party is preparing to call on the Goa governor as early as this evening to stake claim to form the government. News agency ANI reports that BJP sources in Goa have said that the party will look to act on the lead today in the event of a hung assembly.
In the last election, the BJP moved quickly to steal a march over the Congress to form the government, despite having four seats fewer.
This time, if the BJP cannot claim majority, it will look to quickly stitch up alliances in similar fashion to win a third consecutive election in the state.
An independent from Bicholim, Chandrakant Shetye, has already announced support to the BJP, having won from his constituency. This takes the BJP's tally to 20, and will need one more seat to claim majority.
Congress leader Michael Lobo has also conceded defeat, saying that the party will work strongly as the opposition.
“We had thought that we will win but we have to accept the people's mandate. We have got 12 seats, BJP has got 18 seats. We will work strongly as the opposition. Congress will have to work hard to win the confidence of people,” said Lobo.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken a slender lead in the Sanquelim seat while Atanasio Monserrate won Panaji, defeating former CM Manohar Parrikar's son, Utpal Parrikar, by 700 votes.
Utpal is contesting as an independent this time after being denied a ticket by the BJP and having turned down an offer to join the Trinamool Congress.
The latest trends show that the BJP is ahead in 19 seats, while the Congress is winning in 11. From 17 MLAs, the Congress had been reduced to two in the outgoing assembly.
The Congress has gathered its candidates in a hotel in north Goa to prevent any attempts of poaching by other parties.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party has opened its account in Goa with two wins in Benaulim and Velim.
