As vote counting trends of the February 14 elections indicate, the ruling BJP in Goa looks all set to score a hattrick in the coastal state.
As per the latest trends for all the 40 Assembly seats in Goa, BJP was leading in 19 seats, while Congress was ahead in 10 seats. MGP was ahead in 4 seats, AAP is ahead on 2 seats, Goa Forward Party and Revolutionary Goans in one each, and Independents were ahead in five seats.
As no party will reach the 21-seat mark on its own, MGP will decide who will form the next government in Goa, a senior political analyst said. Indications are that it will side with BJP in return for Deputy CM's post and key portfolios, he added.
CM Pramod Sawant, who was trailing in Sanquelim constituency after 3 rounds of counting, is now leading by 370 votes over Congress's Dharmesh Saglani. Health minister Vishwajit Rane, a prominent contender or the CM's post, was leading in Valpoi constituency by over 6000 votes.
The ruling BJP is seeking a third straight term in power in the coastal state, while the opposition Congress may not get the numbers to avoid a repeat of the 2017 fiasco when it failed to form government despite emerging as the single largest party.