Goa’s legislative assembly has just 40 members — only Sikkim (32) and the union territory of Puducherry (30) have smaller houses, and Mizoram’s is the same size. Its current term ends on 14 March 2027, making it one of the first five states due to vote next year. The Election Commission has not yet announced the schedule.
Goa at a glance
- Seats: 40 (majority: 21)
- Term ends: 14 March 2027
- Chief Minister: Pramod Sawant (BJP), since March 2019
- Lok Sabha seats: 2 (North Goa and South Goa, 20 assembly segments each)
- Last election: single phase on 14 February 2022
The 2022 result
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 20 |
| Indian National Congress | 11 |
| Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) | 2 |
| Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) | 2 |
| Goa Forward Party (GFP) | 1 |
| Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) | 1 |
| Independents | 3 |
| Total | 40 |
The BJP, one seat short of a majority, formed the government with the support of the MGP and independents. Pramod Sawant, who first became Chief Minister after Manohar Parrikar’s death in March 2019, was sworn in for a second term.
Small house, big swings
In a 40-member house, a handful of MLAs can change who governs. Goa has seen this repeatedly:
- 2017: Congress won the most seats (17), but the BJP (13) formed the government with regional parties and independents.
- 2019: ten Congress MLAs joined the BJP.
- September 2022: eight of the eleven Congress MLAs elected months earlier, including former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo, joined the BJP.
Why those switches were legal
The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution — the anti-defection law — disqualifies a legislator who voluntarily gives up membership of their party. But it makes an exception when at least two-thirds of a party’s legislators agree to merge with another party. Eight of eleven is more than two-thirds, so the MLAs kept their seats. Disqualification petitions are decided by the Speaker.
What parties are saying
Chief Minister Sawant has said the BJP is aiming for more than 27 seats in 2027 and that the choice of chief ministerial face is for the party to make. Opposition parties have not announced any alliance for the election. We will track seat-sharing announcements as they happen.
Voter list and preparations
Goa is included in the Election Commission’s Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls, with 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date:
- Draft rolls: 12 November 2026
- Claims and objections: until 11 December 2026
- Final rolls: 4 January 2027
Goans who have moved between constituencies — common in the Panaji–Margao–Vasco belt — should use Form 8 to shift their entry rather than registering afresh. Read our voter guide.
On 27 October the Commission also ordered the transfer of officers posted in their home districts or with three years or more in one district during the last four years.
Beyond the state
- Goa elects 1 Rajya Sabha member.
- In the July 2027 presidential election, each Goa MLA’s vote is worth 20.
Follow Goa Election 2027 for schedule and candidate updates.
