Panaji (GOA): It’s going to be BJP state president v/s Congress state president for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, the elections for which are scheduled on July 21.

The ruling coalition has nominated BJP state chief Vinay Tendulakar as their candidate while the opposition Congress have fielded their recent appointed and sitting Member of Parliament Shantaram Naik for the Rajya sabha seat.

Both the candidates on Tuesday filed the nominations before the returning officer Secretary State assembly Nilkant Subhedar. The scrutiny of the nominations will be held on July 12 while the withdrawal of candidatures, if any on July 14.

The term of the Rajya Sabha member is of six years, while the one-third of its members retires in every two years.

Tendulkar, is likely to have a smooth sailing considering the fact that the BJP led coalition has 21 MLAs in the 38-member state assembly. While BJP has 12 MLAs, its coalition partners- MGP, Goa Forward and Independents have three legislators each.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane being non-MLAs cannot vote.

“All the coalition partners in the government has extended support to my candidature due to which I will have smooth sailing on July 21 when elections would be held,” Tendulkar told reporters after filing the nomination papers.

On the other hand, Congress has only 16 MLAs. There is also one nationalist congress party (NCP) legislator in the opposition and there is no clarity as to whom he will extend support.

“I am confident about my victory. The non BJP parties or MLAs are secular forces and I am confident that these secular forces will support me,” Naik said.

The counting is scheduled on July 21 evening at 5.00pm.

Team TNV