Panaji (Goa): Even before  the Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the dates for by-polls in Goa’s two constituencies, the Congress party has shortlisted the candidates in Panaji and Valpoi constituencies.

The party also  decided that the candidate for Goa Rajya Sabha seat should be decided with a consensus with like minded parties.

The election for Rajya Sabha which was scheduled to be held in June first week has been postponed and the dates for Panaji and Valpoi by-polls are yet to be announced.

“The Congress Legislature Party began the process of finalizing the candidates though the election process is yet to formally begin,” a senior Congress leader said.

In Panaji constituency, the party has decided to field its former minister Atanasio Monserratte who was expelled in the year 2015, he said.

The by-election in this constituency was necessitated after BJP MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar resigned as MLA to make way for chief minister Manohar Parrikar to be elected to the House.

“Congress has shortlisted two names including Satyavijay Naik and Roy Naik for Valpoi by-poll,” he said.

This seat is left vacant as then Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane resigned from the House to join BJP.

The CLP also held discussion on upcoming Rajya Sabha poll and it was decided to field the candidate who can get support from non-BJP parties. “The candidate that we will be fielding will not be from Congress. He should have the power to bring together all the non-BJP forces,” he said without mentioning the names of shortlisted candidates.

Team TNV