from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (GA)
Panajji, Dec 1: The Congress has retained its Pale constituency seat defeating its nearest rival BJP in the by-polls held on November 26.
Pratap Gawas, a Congress candidate won taking 1534 lead over his nearest rival. Pradip Sawant was defeated in the by-polls that were necessitated after death of sitting Congress legislator Gurudas Gawas.
BJP rebel candidate Dr Suresh Amonkar, who contested as independent candidate, garnered 3682 votes. Gawas got 7867 votes while BJP candidate was the choice of 6333 voters.
The victorious Congress candidate Gawas said that he could manage to win only due to successful Congress-led government and also performance of chief minister Digamber Kamat.
The 40-seat Goa legislative assembly now has 18 Congress, 14 BJP, three NCP, two each from independent and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and a United Goans Democratic Party (unattached) legislator.