PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained its North Goa Lok Sabha seat with its candidate Shripad Naik getting elected for a sixth consecutive term in the 2024 elections on Tuesday.
Shripad Naik, the Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports defeated former union minister and Congress candidate Ramakant Khalap by a margin of 1,16,252 votes.
Naik polled 2,57,786 votes while Khalap secured 1,41,534 votes.
In all eight had contested the elections in the North Goa constituency. Except the four candidates of the national parties, all others forfeited their security deposits.
Incidentally, NOTA (None Of The Above) polled 6,328 votes in North Goa.
Naik maintained the lead from the first round, and took comfortable leads in most of the Assembly segments. Khalap could secure lead in only four Assembly segments i.e. Calangute and Aldona in Bardez taluka and Santa Cruz and Sant Andre constituencies in Tiswadi taluka.
Naik polled highest votes in Poriem, Sankhali and Valpoi constituencies. Of the remaining five Assembly segments in Bardez, Naik polled highest 12,613 votes in Aldona constituency as against 6,918 polled by Khalap.
Khalap however appeared disappointed after he trailed in his traditional Mandrem constituency, which he represented six times.
Accepting the defeat, Khalap said, “I accept the people’s mandate with all humility. I congratulate Shripad Naik for securing huge margin. I hope that good work will be done for the State and the country. I hope that our friendship will continue to be as usual.”
Khalap said that the party will analyse the reasons for the defeat in North Goa, He also added that he will continue to serve the people of the State.
Thanking the people of North Goa constituency for reposing their trust in him, Naik said, “I am thankful to the people of North Goa. I will not forget the blessings and support given by the people. I am bound to work for the development of Goa and particularly North Goa.”
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that the party has accepted the mandate given by the people of Goa in both the constituencies. The party congratulated Naik for huge winning margin and his double hat-trick of winning the North Goa Parliamentary constituency for the sixth consecutive term.
Sawant said that BJP secured 56 per cent vote share in the North Goa constituency and its vote share in South Goa had increased to 45.26 per cent. The party will brainstorm over its performance in certain constituencies, he added.