High-Stakes Bye-Election in Benaulim Amid INDIA Bloc and Independent Candidates' Face-Off

About 52 per cent of voters participated in the Benaulim zilla panchayat by-election, where the opposition INDIA bloc's candidate faces off against three independents. This election is vital for the INDIA bloc as BJP gave tacit support to two independents. Opposition parties are united against BJP-backed candidates.

About 52 per cent of voters cast their ballots in the crucial bye-election for the zilla panchayat seat of the Benaulim constituency on Sunday, according to officials.

This election is significant for the opposition INDIA bloc, which has fielded AAP's Joseph Pimenta against three independents—Royla Fernandes, a Congress rebel; Greyyfern Fernandes; and Frank Fernandes.

The state election commission confirmed that 52.12 per cent of the total voters exercised their franchise in Benaulim, part of the South Goa Lok Sabha seat.

Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Goa Forward Party, and other opposition parties have endorsed Pimenta.

AAP Goa chief Amit Palekar noted that while the BJP did not officially contest the bypoll, it has provided tacit support to two independent candidates.

Palekar accused the BJP of pulling out all the stops to defeat the INDIA bloc candidate.

The Benaulim zilla panchayat bypoll was necessitated by the disqualification of AAP leader Hanzel Fernandes over a false caste certificate. The constituency is reserved for OBC candidates.

AAP MLA Venzy Viegas stated that all opposition parties are unitedly fighting against the BJP-backed candidates.

Independent candidate Royla Fernandes, who had moved a state tribunal leading to Hanzel Fernandes' disqualification, accused AAP of spreading false propaganda.

"I have the support of all the local Congress leaders," she said. Royla had resigned from her position as Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary before filing her nomination as an independent candidate.

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