PANJIM: The various exit polls predicted a tough battle between the BJP and Congress in the coastal State of Goa.
According to predictions, both the BJP and Congress Party are likely to secure one seat each in the Lok Sabha elections.
With a vote share of 52 per cent, the BJP is likely to emerge victorious from the North Goa Lok Sabha seat. While, with a 43 per cent vote share in the State, Congress is likely to retain its dominance in the South Goa seat, the exit poll results by Axis my India showed.
However, the leaders from both the sides claimed that their parties are going to emerge victorious after the election results are announced on June 4,
Speaking to O Heraldo, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said, “I am certain that we are going to win both the seats in Goa and NDA is will bag more than 400 seats in the country. Our party will win 370 seats while our alliance partners will contribute to ensure we cross the 400 mark. I am sure we are going to win more than 400 seats.”
Captain Viriato Fernandes, INDIA Bloc candidate from South Goa Lok Sabha constituency said, “We don’t give much importance to the exit polls.” He said, “People have voted. It is just a question of two days when the results will be out. It is better to wait. People have put in lot of efforts. However, as per our information, we are winning both the seats.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa Convenor Amit Palekar said, “I do not think the exit polls are projecting the correct picture. We do not know what are the samples? I think nation has polled in a different direction. Some exit polls are showing Goa 2-0. I cannot believe that. It can be one-one but that is not because of the BJP but because of Shripad Naik. But again the margin will not be one lakh as it was claimed.”
Goa had gone to polls in the third phase which took place on May 7. There is a direct contest between BJP and the Congress on both the seats. While BJP has fielded union minister Shripad Naik in North Goa against the INDIA Bloc candidate and former union minister Ramakant Khalap.
In South Goa, BJP has fielded industrialist Pallavi Dempo against Congress candidate Capt Viriato Fernandes, a former Naval officer.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shripad Naik had emerged victorious in the North Goa Lok Sabha constituency defeating Congress’ Girish Chodankar, while in the South Goa Lok Sabha seat, Congress’ Francisco Sardinha had won the polls against BJP’s Narendra Sawaikar.