Goa Politics

Goa is divided into 11 Talukas, based on the districts Nordgoa (purple) and Sudgoa. Goa is administered from the capital Panaji, on the left bank of the Mandovi. The seat of Parliament is in Porvorim on the opposite bank of Mandovi. The highest court in charge of Goa is located approximately 400 kilometers away in Mumbai.

In Panaji, there is a judge who sits in the Bombay High Court in Goa and two MPs of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament, and one in the Rajya Sabha, the Indian upper house.

Goa’s Parliament, which is part of the Goa Legislative Assembly, is a parliament with 40 deputies elected for five years.

The executive power rests with the Chief Minister, who is elected by parliament. Formally, it is the President of India Governor whose duties are primarily representative. The main function of the governor is to appoint the Chief Minister and he also has the right to dissolve Parliament.

By 1990, Goa was known for political stability. Frequent changes of government since, changed this picture radically. In March 2005, the governor dissolved the parliament and the question raised by the Congress Party government, and Goa was placed under direct control of the Indian Central Government (President’s rule). For the next elections in June 2005 it was again the Congress party who emerged as the winner.

The two strongest political parties in Goa are the Congress Party and the Hindu-nationalist BJP. Other important parties are the Nationalist Congress Party and the traditional Brahmin Hindus supported by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. While being driven primarily by the Christian population of United Goans Democratic Party, it was one of the most influential political parties in Goa, but has now lost too much support. The Acting Chief Minister, since 8 June 2007 has been Digambar Kamat.

Political Structure

India’s smallest state is divided into two districts North Goa (Nordgoa 1736km²) and South Goa (Sudgoa 1966km²). Each district has in turn, several administrative districts, called Taluka. Nordgoa includes: Pernem Taluka; Bardez; Bicholim; Satari; Tiswadi and Ponda. For Sudgoa there includes: Mormugao; Salcette; Sangue; Quepem and Canacona. Goa covers a total of eleven Talukas. The two districts are represented in the lower house of Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha with one delegate each.