Cong-NCP bag six, BJP win three seats in Goa

Panaji, June 5 (UNI) The ruling Congress-NCP combine in Goa won six seats, while BJP bagged three, including the capital Panaji, represented by former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, as counting of votes for the June 2 elections to the 40-member Legislative Assembly got underway at three centres across the tiny tourist state.

Mr Parrikar was re-elected for the fourth consecutive term by defeating his only rival Dinar Tarcar (Congress) by a margin of 1,444 votes, while Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane was leading by 4,000 votes at the end of second round in his bastion of Poriem.

NCP made gains wresting Vasco and Tivim from BJP.

Congress emerged victorious in Calangute, where Agnelo Fernandes defeated his UGDP rival by 2,761 votes. Mr Agnelo polled 8,319 votes as against 5,558 of Joseph Sequeira of UGDP.

In Velim, Filip Neri Rodrigues of Congress retained his seat by 2,754 votes. Power Minister Digambar Kamat (Congress) retained his Margao seat, while Alex Sequeira of Congress won from Loutlim.

BJP's Laxmikant Parsekar defeated former Union minister Ramakant Khalap of the Congress in Mandrem by 1,710 votes. BJP also retained its Cancona seat.

UNI