Votes against BJP split among Opposition in Goa: Chidambaram

Panaji: After the poll results came in Goa, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Thursday that though people wished for a rule change in the state, their votes got split among Opposition parties, IANS reported. BJP here won 20 seats while Congress managed only 11 out of the 40 membered assembly while 21 is the required majority.

"We accept the verdict of the people of Goa. Our candidates fought a good election, fought bravely, fought against several obstacles and 11 of our candidates and one of our allies, Goa Forward Party, won. People have voted the BJP to power, and we accept that, and we wish the people of Goa very well," Chidambaram, Congress' polls monitor-in-charge in Goa, said in a press conference.

He further explained how the splitting of votes helped BJP He said that though BJP got 20 seats, they won only 33 per cent of the votes. Though a severe majority voted against BJP, they went split among the opposition parties, he said.

He said that he already communicated the message that if the Goans don't want BJP to power, they should not split votes among other parties, but the message has not got the required reception. They had voted "largely for Congress" but also for some new ones in the arena.

More than 70 per cent of Congress' Goan candidates were new young faces, and Chidambaram praised them. "These young clean, educated candidates, many of whom were contesting for the first time, put up a splendid performance. We are disappointed they lost. We have told them that this is the best opportunity for you to stay firmly with the party, build the party and begin the fight for the next election from tomorrow. And many of them will begin the fight for the next election from tomorrow," Chidambaram said.

Meanwhile, the BJP is reportedly in talks with winning independent candidates and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to fill the quorum to form the government in Goa.