BJP inches closer to halfway mark, likely to form Govt in Goa: ECI trends

New Delhi, March 10 : The latest trends in Goa assembly poll results indicate the incumbent Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) majority seats as it inches towards the halfway mark of the total seats. BJP is currently leading on 11 seats followed by the Indian National Congress (INC) which has an edge over 11 assembly seats in Goa. Goa Assembly 40 seats and 21 is the halfway mark to form the government. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also leading in one constituency and is likely to open its account in Goa. The youngest of all three national parties, AAP did an aggressive election campaign in Goa in the last few months. The two local parties of Goa, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP)–are also leading on 1 and 4 assembly seats respectively. With over 300 candidates contesting in 40 assembly constituencies, Goa is witnessing a multi-cornered contest with parties including the BJP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, and AAP in the fray. In 2017, Congress had emerged as the single largest party, winning 17 seats but the BJP, which won 13 seats, managed to form the government with the support of the GFP and the MGP which had won three seats each, and two independents. The counting of votes in Goa began at 8 am Thursday. Goa went to the polls in a single phase on February 14. ASH ACL1133