Goa Profile
Goa is spread in an area of 3702 square kilometers. Goa is the smallest state in area but the highest revenue earning in terms of tourism. Its GDP is two and half times more than the entire nation’s.
It is a part of the coastal region of India called ‘Konkan’.The munificent beaches, the swaying palm, sparkling Arabian Sea and a laid back life make Goa the hottest destination not only among India but in the entire world.
The highest point in the state is Sonsogor, which has an altitude of 1,167 metres. The state has a coastline of 101 kms.
The main rivers of Goa are Mandvi, Zuari, Terekhol and Chapora. The Mormugao harbour is one the best natural harbours in the whole of South Asia. Mandvi and Zuari are the lifelines of this tiny state.
The most popular festivals of this tiny beach side state are Ganesh Chaturthi, Christmas or in Konkani Natalam, Diwali, Easter and the year end Carnival.
Goa is famous for its most popular alcoholic beverage, Feni, which is made from fermented cashwenuts
Goa is rich in deposits of iron ore, bauxite, manganese, limestone and silica.
Tourist Destinations
Bom Jesus Basilica
Aguada Fort
Calangute Beach
Baga Beach
Shanta Durga temple
Chief Ministers of Goa
| S No | Name | Took Office | Demit Office | Party |
| 1 | Dayanand Bandodkar | 20-Dec-63 | 2-Dec-66 | Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party(MGP) |
| (President`s rule) | 2-Dec-66 | 5-Apr-67 | ||
| 2 | Dayanand Bandodkar | 5-Apr-67 | 12 August 1973, died in office | Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party(MGP) |
| 3 | Shashikala Kakodkar | 12-Aug-73 | 27-Apr-79 | Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party(MGP) |
| President`s rule | 27-Apr-79 | 16-Jan-80 | ||
| 4 | Pratap Singh Rane | 16-Jan-80 | 27-Mar-90 | Indian National Congress (won elections as Congress-U, switched to Congress-I) |
| 5 | Churchill Alemao | 27-Mar-90 | 14-Apr-90 | Progressive Democratic Front |
| 6 | Dr. Luis Proto Barbosa | 14-Apr-90 | 14-Dec-90 | Progressive Democratic Front |
| President`s rule | 14-Dec-90 | 25-Jan-91 | ||
| 7 | Ravi S. Naik | 25-Jan-91 | 18-May-93 | INC |
| 8 | Dr Wilfred de Souza | 18-May-93 | 2-Apr-94 | INC |
| 9 | Ravi S. Naik | 2-Apr-94 | 8-Apr-94 | INC |
| 10 | Dr Wilfred de Souza | 8-Apr-94 | 16-Dec-94 | INC |
| 11 | Pratap Singh Rane | 16-Dec-94 | 30-Jul-98 | INC |
| 12 | Dr Wilfred de Souza | 30-Jul-98 | 26-Nov-98 | Goa Rajiv Congress |
| 13 | Luizinho Faleiro | 26-Nov-98 | 9-Feb-99 | INC |
| (President`s rule) | 9-Feb-99 | 9-Jun-99 | ||
| 14 | Luizinho Faleiro | 9-Jun-99 | 24-Nov-99 | INC |
| 15 | Francisco Sardinha | 24-Nov-99 | 24-Oct-00 | Goa People`s Congress |
| 16 | Manohar Parrikar | 24-Oct-00 | 2-Feb-05 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 17 | Pratap Singh Rane | 2-Feb-05 | 4-Mar-05 | INC |
| (President`s rule) | 4-Mar-05 | 7-Jun-05 | ||
| 18 | Pratap Singh Rane | 7-Jun-05 | 8-Jun-07 | INC |
| 19 | Digambar Kamat | 8-Jun-07 | present | INC |
Party Position of the Outgoing Assembly(after the 2007 Assembly Elections)
Party | Seats Won |
INC | 16 |
BJP | 14 |
NCP | 03 |
MGP | 02 |
Save Goa Front | 02 |
UGDP | 01 |
Others | 02 |
SGF merged with INC and increased its strength from 16 to 18.Digambar Kamat of INC is the incumbent CM of the coalition govt supported by NCP and MGP
2012 Assembly Elections Dates Announced
There are 40 Assembly seats in GOA and out of which 1 is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).(EVMs) will be used for Goa Assembly Election 2012. Elections in Goa will be completed with the help of 1612 polling stations spread across Goa.
Polling Date : March 03,2012 and the Counting of Votes :March 04,2012
Counting of Votes Deferred to March 6,2012
The EC has announced that counting for all five states headed for elections is being moved from March 4 to March 6,2012.
Illegal Mining
Undoubtedly, the biggest issue in Goa this poll season is the allegations of rampant illegal mining. The Congress government has been at odds to explain the ‘action’ being taken to curb the menace but trucks full of iron ore from the western Ghats continue to make their way down Zuari and Mandovi rivers to the Mormugao port.Goa has 336 valid mining leases out of which 90 mines are in operation. Controversy engulfed the state’s most profitable business in mid-2011, when Goa State Pollution Control Board suspended the operation of 35 mines for failing to provide the requisite approvals.
Land Scams & Goa Regional Plan
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its 2008 report had pointed out to a loss of Rs 102 crore to the exchequer in the allotment of 86 plots for SEZs.
The Digambar Kamat government was forced to backtrack in the face of stiff protests by the opposition and the civil society.However, the taint is yet far from being washed away as Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar has recently filed a complaint with the state police against Congress’ two former chief ministers and a legislator for their alleged role in dubious deals. Parrikar has promised that the BJP will re-allot the land earmarked for SEZs to Goan entrepreneurs.
Goa to Vote for 40-seat Assembly on March 3,2012
Undoubtedly, the biggest issue in Goa this poll season is the allegations of rampant illegal mining. The Congress government has been at odds to explain the ‘action’ being taken to curb the menace but trucks full of iron ore from the western Ghats continue to make their way down Zuari and Mandovi rivers to the Mormugao port.Goa has 336 valid mining leases out of which 90 mines are in operation. Controversy engulfed the state’s most profitable business in mid-2011, when Goa State Pollution Control Board suspended the operation of 35 mines for failing to provide the requisite approvals.
Land Scams & Goa Regional Plan
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its 2008 report had pointed out to a loss of Rs 102 crore to the exchequer in the allotment of 86 plots for SEZs.
The Digambar Kamat government was forced to backtrack in the face of stiff protests by the opposition and the civil society.However, the taint is yet far from being washed away as Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar has recently filed a complaint with the state police against Congress’ two former chief ministers and a legislator for their alleged role in dubious deals. Parrikar has promised that the BJP will re-allot the land earmarked for SEZs to Goan entrepreneurs.
Scam-Scarred Goa Gears Up For Polls
CM (Digambar Kamat) and several cabinet ministers have been linked to a multi-crore illegal mining scam.Home Minister and his son (Ravi Naik and his son Roy) have been accused of links to the drug mafia by a foreigner in court.
Education Minister (Atanasio Monserrate) has been accused of leading a mob attack on a police station.
Undoubtedly,the ruling Congress-led coalition government is trapped in a quagmire of corruption, scandal and non performance.
Over the last 4 years, the Congress-led coalition government, which includes the NCP and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), a once-powerful regional party, now tottering on the brink of political survival, has survived scams and scandals virtually every month in office.
The Congress is keen on repeating the 2007 coalition formula and is keen on teaming up with the NCP and the MGP.While talks with the NCP vis-a-vis a seat sharing arrangement are on currently, the MGP appears to be looking at a partner swap, with the party leaders openly flirting with the BJP.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is all set to open a Goa chapter of its party, which is likely to be headed by former chief minister Dr Wilfred de Souza.
Former NCP MLA. Ex-Tourism Minister Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco(a chargesheeted legislator who in the course of the last five years has been booked for criminal charges ranging from bigamy, foreign exchange violations, extortion, attempted murder, etc) has re-launched the 'Goa Vikas Party', a non-consequential political outfit which was formed a few years back, before slipping into dormancy.
MGP to decide Coalition Party
Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) President Pandurang Dioak Dhavalikar has said that the MGP will finalize the coalition issue by January 2, 2012.Presently MGP has two MLAs in the 40-member state legislative assembly. As per the election commission guidelines, if MGP has to save the party symbol and recognition, then it must win at least two seats or poll 85,000 votes in the assembly election.
Both INC and BJP have shown interest to form an alliance with MGP.
Goa Muslim Front(GMF) Seeks 4 Seats from INC
GMF has demanded at least 4 tickets from the INC to contest in the forthcoming assembly elections.In a memorandum submitted to the state Congress president, Subhash Shirodkar, the GMF has disclosed its intention to field candidates from Margao, Ponda, Vasco and Mormugao. If the INC does not give tickets for the above 4 constituencies then the GMF will field its own candidates or tie up with other parties in the forthcoming assembly polls.
INC - NCP Seat Sharing for the 2012 Assembly Elections
Congress and NCP leaders met in New Delhi on Tuesday Dec 27,2011 and discussed about seat-sharing for the forthcoming assembly elections. INC represented by AICC GS Jagmeet Singh Brar and NCP represented by Praful Patel and Goa coordinator Praful Hede.
EC Blocks 400 Govt Jobs
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared as "null and void" 416 appointment orders which were given by 6 govt departments post-Dec 24, when the election code of conduct came into force.BJP had complained against the illegal grant of jobs, following which the action was taken by the EC.BJP Poll Manifesto
Goa BJP on Sunday Feb 19,2012 released its manifesto, making several promises -
- reduction in price of petrol by Rs 11 a litre by removing VAT with effect from April 2012
- housewives will be given an allowance of Rs 1,000 per month to fight the price rise
- Rs 1 lakh would be deposited as marriage expenses in the bank account of a girl, once she completes 18 years of age
- Under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSS), pension amount will be increased from Rs 1,000 per month to Rs 2,000
- unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 per month under the minimum employment assurance scheme
- 60 per cent of the royalty received from Mines will be spent on the development of infrastructure and environment revitalisation
Congress Poll Manifesto
Free water and electricity to poorer sections of society are two of the key promises made by the Congress in its poll manifesto, released on Monday Feb 20,2012 by senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes and several other dignitaries including Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Luizinho Faleiro, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and other party officials.
"We have thought of taking into account the poorer sections of society in our manifesto. Families whose income is below Rs.1 lakh will get up to 150 units of water and electricity free," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Subhash Shirodkar said.
Some of the major promises made in the manifesto are 50 percent reservation for women in local elected bodies, development of regional and Indian languages, medical tourism, reservation of Scheduled Tribes in the state legislative assembly, implementation of the prime minister's 15-point programme for minorities, enhanced connectivity through bridges and flyovers, helipads and a green field airport and a solid waste management system.
The Congress has also promised to pass the Lokayukta law in Goa, if it is elected to power.
Campaigning Ends in Goa
Campaigning for the Assembly elections end on Thursday March 1,2012in Goa with just 48 hours to go before the first and only phase of polls in Goa.
2012 Goa Assembly Elections - March 3,2012
Voting began on Saturday March 3,2012 in Goa to elect a new 40-member Assembly.A total of 10.25 lakh voters, spread over two districts - North Goa and South Goa - are will exercise their franchise at 1,612 polling booths.215 candidates, including nine women and 74 independents are in the fray.
81 % Polling in Goa Assembly Elections - March 3,2012
About 81 % of voters cast their votes for the 40-member Goa Assembly on Saturday. Both the ruling Congress and the BJP hailed the "ballot flood", interpreting it as a good sign for them.
In the 2007 election, Goa saw 72 per cent polling.
Opinion Poll Predictions
2012 Goa Assembly Elections Results - Tuesday March 6,2012
BJP Sweeps Congress Out of Power
The BJP-MGP alliance has swept the Congress out of power in Goa, crossing the majority and notching 23 seats and leading in one.INC has won 9 Seats;United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP) has won 2 seats, and the Independents have won 5 seats.The details of the results are -
Party | Seats Won | Won in 2007 |
BJP | 24* | 14 |
INC | 9 | 16 |
NCP | 0 | 3 |
UGDP | 2 | 1 |
MAG | 0 | 2 |
Others | 5 | 4 |
Total | 40 | 40 |
*BJP 21 and alliance partner MGP 3
BJP-MGP Combine Stakes Claim to Form Govt in Goa
The BJP-MGP combine on Wednesday March 7,2012 staked claim to form the government in Goa claiming support of 26 legislators - 21 legislators from BJP,3 from its alliance partner MGP and 2 Independents-Benjamin Silva (Velim) and Avertano Furtado (Navelim)
Manohar Parrikar, who was unanimously elected as the leader of the State BJP Legislature Party, submitted a letter of support signed by the newly-elected MLAs(26 MLA's as abovestated) to Governor K Sankarnarayanan on Wednesday March 7,2012.
Manohar Parrikar Sworn in CM of Goa
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