Goa elections: Political rookies turn giant killers

PANAJI: They stepped into the field as novices and also-ran, but emerged as giant killers toppling sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, ministers and chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
Dayanand Sopte emerged as the prominent giant killer from Mandrem constituency, as the Congress candidate who had lost to Parsekar in March 2012 elections handed his rival a heavy defeat by a margin of over 4,000 votes.
Goa Forward candidates from Saligao and Siolim, Jayesh Salgaonkar and Vinod Palyenkar defeated BJP heavyweights, tourism minister Dilip Parulekar and water resources minister Dayanand Mandrekar after counting in these constituencies was completed by Saturday afternoon.
Clafasio Dias of Congress defeated BJP MLA Rajan Naik of Cuncolim, BJP-supported Independent candidate toppled Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) president and Priol MLA Pandurang Deepak Dhavlikar among others.
Young BJP MLA Siddharth Kuncalienkar who had won in the by-election last time retained his seat, slaying another giant, Atanasio Monserrate of United Goans Party (UGP), who had never lost an election.