Congress retained its Pale constituency seat by defeating BJP rivals in the by-polls. Polling for the seat was held on November 26.

Congress candidate Pratap Gawas defeated his nearest BJP candidate Pradip Sawant, by 1,534-votes. The results were declared on Saturday.

Gawas got 7,867 votes, while the BJP candidate was voted for by 6,333 persons. Rebel BJP candidate Suresh Amonkar, who contested independently, polled 3,682 votes.

The 40-seat Goa legislative Assembly now has 18 Congress legislators, 14 BJP, three NCP, one independent and one Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and United Goans Democratic Party (unattached) legislators.

The by-polls were necessitated after the death of sitting Congress legislator Gurudas Gawas.