Goa election results 2017 highlights: Hung Assembly in Goa; Congress, BJP now at mercy of MGP, Goa Forward

Here are the latest counting LIVE updates from Goa:

5.20 pm: Here are the final numbers for Goa – BJP (13), Congress (17). NCP(1), MGP (3), Goa Forward (3), Independents (3) AAP (0)

5.00 pm: Canacona and Velim have the Congress leading in both.

3.35 pm: Velim and Canacona are the two assembly constituencies that are yet to be declared.

3.40 pm: Who will the MGP and Goa Forward party back? With BJP and Congress hovering around 15 seats, Vijai and Sudin are the kingmakers.

3.25 pm: We are hopeful of forming a government in Goa, says BJP chief Amit Shah

3.30 pm: Antonio Fernandes of the Congress has won in St Cruz

3.25 pm: Number of wins so far: Congress: 14, BJP: 13, MGP: 3, Goa Forward: 3, Independents 3, NCP 1

Goa elections: The man who defeated CM Parsekar – Dayanand Sopte. Express Photo/Nirmal Harindran

3.15 pm: Aleixo Reginald of the Congress Party is leading in Curtorim

3.07 pm: Pratapsingh Rane of the Congress Party walks out of counting hall to a cheering crowd

3.05 pm: Five former chief ministers have won. Churchill Alemao, Ravi Naik, Digambar Kamat, Luizinho Faleiro and Pratapsingh Rane

3.00 pm: The blamegame has begun. Sudin says Parsekar is responsible. “Parsekar is to be blamed for the defeat. BJP- MGP together could bag 25 seats,” Sudin Dhavalikar says

Congress MLAs Pratapsing Rane and his son Vishwajit Rane. Express Photo/Nirmal Harindran

2.55 pm: In Thivim, Congress’ Nilkant Halarnkar defeats BJP’s sitting MLA Kiran Kandolkar

2.50 pm: Carlos Almeida of BJP is leading in Vasco, Hemant Golatkar leading in St. Cruz

2.40 pm: In Porvorim, Rohan Khaunte is leading

2.25 pm: MLA Nilesh Cabral wins by nearly 6,000 votes in Curchorem

2.20 pm: Vijai Sardesai, speaking to the Indian Express, refuses to commit on who his party will back. “We have a common minimum programme. In many seats the Congress acted against our candidates… let’s analyse and see.”

2.15 pm: Alina Saldanha of the BJP is leading over Congress Gilbert Rodrigues of the Congress

2.10 pm: Ravi Naik of the Congress has won from Ponda

2.05 pm: Congress GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro wins from Navelim, defeats Minister Avertano, Congress’ Vishwajeet Rane wins in Valpoi

2.00 pm: In St Cruz, Rudolfo Fernandes is leading over Hemant Golatkar of BJP

1.55 pm: In Tivim, Congress candidate Nilkant Harlarnkar leading in second round

1.40 pm: In Mormugao BJP’s Milind Naik has won over Sankalp Amonkar of Congress

1.35 pm: Congress’ Ravi Naik is leading in Ponda. BJP’s Sunil Desai is trailing.

1.32 pm: In Sanguem, Savitri Kavlekar of the Congress is leading independent Prasad Gaonkar.

1.30 pm: Babush Monserrate has lost from Panaji. BJP retains Manohar Parrikar’s seat

1.30 pm: In Curchorem, Nilesh Cabral of the BJP is leading over Congress’ Rosario Fernandes

1.26 pm: Sudin Dhavalikar of the MGP has been declared winner.

1.25 pm: In Navelim, Luizinho Faleiro is leading over Independent Avertano Furtado. Furtado is backed by the BJP.

1.24 pm: Congress’ Digambar Kamat declared winner in Margao constituency

1.20 pm: Cumbarjua seats goes to BJP’s Pandurang Madkaikar with 12,225 votes.

1.15 pm: Wilfred D’Sa of the Congress has defeated Mickky Pacheco in Nuvem

1.08 pm: In Marcaim, Sudin Dhavalikar of the MGP is leading over Pradeep Shet of the BJP. MGP will hold the key to which party forms government if it ends up in a hung assembly. Sudin is eyeing a deputy CM post if not CM.

1.05 pm: In Sanquelim, Dr Pramod Sawant of the BJP is leading over Dharmesh Saglani of the Congress

1.00 pm: Pandurang Madkaikar of the BJP is leading in Cumbarjua. He switched sides just before the elections. Xavier Fialho of the Congress is trailing

12.55 pm: In Panjim, a twist. Siddharth takes lead from Babush. Siddharth is now at 3069, Babush 2719

12.47 pm: Congress leader and former CM Digambar Kamat is leading in Margao

12.45 pm: Babush Monserrate is leading in Panjim. He’s contesting against Siddharth Kuncalienkar of the BJP. Siddharth took over the seat from BJP’s Manohar Parrikar.

12.35 pm: Rajendra Arlekar of the BJP is trailing. MGP’s Manohar Trimbak Ajgaonkar is leading

12.30 pm: Goa Forward Jayesh Salgaonkar leads in Saligao over BJP’s Dilip Parulekar. This, after first round of counting.

12.24 pm: With BJP and Congress neck-and-neck, the real test begins now as counting for the remaining 20 constituencies has begun.

12.17 pm: Vinod Paliencar of the Goa Forward has defeated BJP’s Dayanad Mandrekar in Siolim

12.15 pm: Rajesh Patnekar of the BJP has won in Bicholim. He defeats Naresh Sawal of MGP

12.10 pm: Clafasio Dias wins in Cuncolim after a recount. He has defeated Joaquim Alemao who contested on an Independent ticket. Clafasio won by 149 votes.

12.05 pm: All those wondering what happened to their constituencies, please hold on. Counting is yet to begin twenty constituencies. These are: Ponda, Vasco, Curtorim, Navelim, Curchorem, Canacona, Madkai, Cortalim, Margao, Velim, Sanguem, Pernem, Tivim, Saligao, Panaji, St Cruz, Cumbarjua, Valpoi and Sankhali.

12.00 pm: In Cuncolim, Congress’ Clafaso has asked for a recount after he lost to Joaquim by 50 votes. Very interesting developments here. Joaquim is a former Congress MLA.

11.55 am: AAP Goa CM candidate Elvis Gomes has been defeated. Joaquim Alemao, an independent candidate and former Congressman, has won.

11.50 am: Can the Congress smile? Too early to say anything in Goa as the second half of counting is yet to begin.

11.45 am: Panic in BJP headquarters? Manohar Parrikar is in a meeting with BJP leaders

11.40 am: The numbers that we have for now are for 20 seats. This is the end of the fourth round of counting.

11.35 am: A look at the numbers in Goa. BJP leads + wins is 7, Congress leads + wins is 8. NCP, MGP and Goa Forward Party two.

11.28 am: BJP’s Glen Ticlo has officially been declared winner in Aldona. He’s a sitting MLA

11.15 am: AAP still to open account in Goa. CM candidate Elvis Gomes in third position in Cuncolim

11.12 am: Here’s a summary of all those who have won. Govind Gaude (Indeprndent), Priol. Deepak Pawaskar, MGP, Savordem. Vijay Sardesai, Goa Forward, Fatorda, Subash Shirodkar, Congress, Shiroda. Babu Kavlekar, Congress, Quepem. Mouvin Godinho, Dabolim, BJP. Milind Naik, BJP, Mormugao.

11. 10 am: Goa Forward Vijay Sardessai wins in Fatorda, defeats BJP’s Damu Naik

11.07 am: While the battle is now between the Congress and the BJP, this election has proved disastrous for debutant Aam Aadmi Party. The message is clear – while they claimed to have the ground support, the people believed this was not their election.

11.00 am: There’s a lull in counting as some counting stations are yet to complete the fourth round of EVM votes. Once done, we will go to the second set of 20 constituencies.

10.55 am: Visibly upset, Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar has left the counting centre. He refused to speak to the media.

10.52 am: In Mayem, BJP candidate Pravin Zantye has won

10.45 am: In St Andre, Francisco Silveira of Congress has been declared winner. Silveira won 8087 of the total 16564 votes.

10.40 am: Trailing by almost 4000 votes, it’s end of the road for Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar in Mandrem constituency.

10.35 am: Churchill Alemao has won in Benaulim Goa. He defeated Independent candidate backed by the BJP Caetano Silva. AAP’s Royla Fernandes ended third. Caetano was in the middle of a controversy over whether he had obtained Portuguese citizenship.

10.30 am: With the first round of voting underway, the BJP appears to have taken a backseat given they are in second position. The second round of counting will begin soon.

10.27 am: In Nuvem, Wilfred D’sa of the Congress is leading Mickky Pacheco by 1700 votes

10. 25 am: Michael Lobo of the BJP is leading in Calangute. Joseph Sequeira of the Congress is trailing. Lobo has the edge in this constituency where the people are rally behind him.

10.22 am: Glenn Ticlo of the BJP is leading in Aldona. Amarnath Panjikar of the Congress is trailing by 1800 votes.

10. 15 am: The Congress is leading in 9 while the BJP is leading in 5. MGP is leading in two, while Others have two leads.

10.07 am: Dayanand Mandrekar of the BJP is now leading GFP’s Vinod Paliencar in Siolim. The lead however is just by 150 seats

10. 00 am: First win in Goa. MGP’s Dipak Pawaskar has defeated Ganesh Gaonkar of BJP in Sanvordem constituency. This is based on the difference of votes left.

9.55 am: Mauvin Godinho, who switched to the BJP just before polls, is leading in Dabolim. Premanand Nanoskar is trailing him by just six votes. So this is a very tough fight.

9.53 am: Clafasio Dias of the Congress is leading in Cuncolim. AAP CM candidate Elvis Gomes is trailing him by about 1500 votes.

9.50 am: The AAP is yet to open its account. They are not leading in any of the 39 seats that they have contested in.

9.45 am: In Goa, Curchill Alemao of the NCP is leading in Benaulim. AAP’s Royla Fernandes is trailing by 940 votes.

9.42 am: In Quepem, Congress’ Chandrakant (babu) Kavlekar is leading.

9.40 am: Subhash Shirodkar of the Congress is leading in Siroda

9.38 am: In St Andre, Francisco Silveira of the Congress is leading and BJP’s Ramrao Wagh is trailing.

9.36 am: Jennifer Monserrate of the Congress is leading in Taleigao

9.34 am: Milind Naik of the BJP is leading in Mormugao. Sankalp Amonkar of Congress is trailing by about 900 votes.

9.33 am: In Mapusa, BJP leader and deputy CM Francis D’Souza is leading by 2366 votes. Vinod Fadke of the MGP is trailing.

9.30 am: Goa Forward’s Vijai Sardesai is leading in Fatorda. Damu Naik is trailing by 1059 votes.

9.25 am: Pratapsing Rane of the Congress is now leading by 4174 votes.

9.21 am: In Priol, Govind Gaude an independent candidate is leading. MGP’s Pandurang Dhavalikar is trailing by 1281 votes.

9.15 am:  If CM Parsekar loses, who will be the BJP’s CM candidate should they win a majority?

9.10 am: Dayanand Sopte of the Congress has now taken a lead of 3962 votes.

9.07 am: BJP’s Pravin Zantye from Mayem is leading in the first round

9.05 am: Vinod Paliencar of Goa Forward Party is leading Siolim by 650 votes. Dayanand Mandrekar, from BJP is trailing. Remember, these are early trends.

9.00 am: Trouble for Goa CM Parsekar? In Mandrem constituency, Congress’ Dayanand Sopte is leading by 750 votes.

8.57 am: The first lead is in and it is for Congress leader Pratapsingh Rane. He is leading by 1700 votes.

8.45 am: So while the first round of EVM counting in Goa is underway, the reason for the delay is because the routers are not working. So no results are being displayed to the reporters at the counting centre. Suspense level 100.

8.41 am:  For the Congress, a win is a must if it wants to retain its hold over the state. In the last election it won only 9 seats. Anything below that this time will perhaps signal an end to the party’s prospects.

8. 37 am: We should be done with ballot votes anytime now post which counting of EVMs will begin.

8. 30 am: No leads yet from Goa, but we know that Manohar Parrikar is currently in a meeting with the top leadership of the party. What’s on their mind is anyone’s guess.

8.25 am: A total of 11,000 plus postal ballots are being counted. The EVMs will have to wait till postal ballots are completely accounted.

8. 20 am: Most poll pundits in Goa say AAP may not win a single seat in the state, or if they do, then at max two seats. Can they prove pundits wrong? Let’s wait and see.

8.15 am: There will be two rounds of counting. In the first round in South Goa, these are the constituencies, Ponda, Madkai, Vasco, Cortalim, Curtorim, Margao, Navelim, Velim, Curchorem, Sanguem, and Canacona. In the north, it is Mandrem, Mapusa, Calangute, Taleigao, Mayem, Bicholim, Siolim, Aldona, St Andre and Poriem.

8.10 am: Here’s what reporters at the counting centre’s are being fed. Traditional Goan breakfast – Mix bhaji with the Goan pao. Not something a Goan sitting in Delhi would want to see early morning.

8.05 am: Counting will be in two parts. The first phase of counting will have 10 seats in each of the two districts, totalling twenty. CM Laxmikant Parsekar’s constituency of Mandrem is in the first phase of counting.

8.00 am: Counting has begun in Goa. We’re expecting leads as early as 9 am. We should be able to ascertain who will form government by about 10.30 am or 11.

7. 45 am: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has reportedly arrived at the BJP headquarters in Panaji. Will the election results be in his favour?

7.40 am: The Congress, on voting day, said they expect to win about 17 seats in the election, while the BJP claims it will win about 23 seats. If that’s true, this will be the second time BJP wins a clear majority in Goa. In the last election they won 21.

7.35 am: There is much chatter that if the BJP wins big in Goa, then the state party leadership will  urge the top leadership to send Parrikar back to Goa as Chief Minister. The entire campaign in Goa was around Parrikar begin a successful CM and Defence Minister.

7.30 am: The first ten constituencies candidates have now been asked to enter the counting hall. The storage room for EVMs will be opened and once the candidates are satisfied, the EVMs will be taken to the counting room.

7.25 am: Arriving at the Bal Bhavan counting centre is BJP’s Siddharth Kuncalienkar. Siddharth replaced BJP leader and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the Panaji seat. He faces a tough challenge from Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.

7.20 am: Here’s AAP candidate Cecile Rodrigues at the counting centre in Panaji. The AAP is hopeful of winning a significant amount of seats in Goa this election. She contested against Congress’ Jennifer Monserrate in Taleigao.

7.00 am: An hour to go before counting begins. The first hour post 8 am will be postal votes. The EVMs will be opened only at about 9 am this morning.

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Who are the likely chief ministerial candidates in Goa? Well, the BJP this election has refused to publicly state that incumbent Laxmikant Parsekar will be their chief minister should they retain power. While there has been talk that Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will return to Goa should the party win with a clear majority (Parrikar claims the BJP will win at least 24 seats), the BJP may have to play second fiddle to the MGP – where Sudin Dhavalikar hopes he will manage to sit on the CM’s throne.