RG was able to secure a vote share of 12.48 per cent votes in South Goa
Gomantak Times
When Revolutionary Goans (RG) jumped in the political waters of Goa and decided to contest the Goa Assembly elections, many dismissed its prospects. With the party winning one seat along with securing a decent vote share, it seems the RG is here to stay.
It won St Andre constituency where 28-year-old RG candidate Viresh Borkar unseated four times MLA Francis Silveirain while many first-time candidates were declared runner ups in several constituencies
The RG candidates, who were not even seen in the running before the polls, have emerged on the Goa political scene as a 'surprise package' and has shown that it has 'Uzzo'. The party went to the polls on unemployment issues and opposition to outsiders and has emerged as an alternative to Congress.
In eight christian dominated constituencies of South Goa, which is usually considered as Congress stronghold, RG was able to secure a vote share of 12.48 per cent votes.
With the exception of Margao, the party has performed brilliantly in all the seven constituencies including Nuvem, Velim, Benaulim and Curtorim.
In the Nuvem constituency, RG secured a vote share of 19.93 per cent with RG candidate Arvind D'Costa finishing second. He got 4,338 votes in his favour.
RG's Desmond Fernandes managed to secure the fourth-highest vote share of 18.25 per cent and gave a tough battle to AAP candidate while in Curtomrim RG's Robert Pereira finish third with 3,489 votes.
In Velim, RG's Degley Fernandes came ahead of incumbent MLA Philip Nari Fernandes, securing a 15.62 per cent vote share.
RG faced a setback only in Margao where its candidate Shashiraj Shirodkar got 722 (3.19 per cent) votes.
RG has indicated that it would work to build a strong party base in the constituencies where it has received good support.