Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 22: In a dramatic turn of events in Goa’s Zilla Panchayat elections, independent candidates have emerged as major contenders, challenging the dominance of established political parties across multiple constituencies.

In Arambol, Radhika Palyekar, running as an independent, achieved a narrow but notable victory, edging out rivals from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress by just 46 votes, highlighting the highly competitive nature of the contest.

The Congress faced further setbacks in St Cruz, where Esperanca Braganza of the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) secured a clear win, dealing a blow to the party’s prospects in the area.

Independent candidates also made strong inroads in North Goa. Kavita Kandolkar won in Colvale, while Sunil Jalmi emerged victorious in Betqui–Candola, underscoring the growing influence of non-party-affiliated contenders in the state’s local governance landscape.

The election results signal a shift in voter sentiment, with independent and regional party candidates increasingly shaping the political dynamics in Goa’s Zilla Panchayats.