Panaji (Goa) After a fortnight long campaigning, the silence on political developments will prevail in Panaji and Valpoi constituencies.
The election campaign which ran for almost a fortnight came to close at 5 pm today. The press conferences were held by all the political parties which are in the fray expressing confidence that their candidates will win in the ensuing by-election.
BJP has fielded chief minister Manohar Parrikar from Panaji constituency who is pitted against Congress’ Girish Chodankar and Anand Shirodkar of Goa Suraksha Manch. The GSM is supported by Shiv Sena.
In Valpoi, BJP leader and State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane is contesting against Congress’ Roy Naik.
The Congress has challenged two decade rule of Parrikar in Panaji constituency who had resigned as member of leiglslative assembly in the year 2015 to join Narendra Modi-led cabinet. Parrikar has been getting elected uninterrupted in this constituency since 1994.
The opposition party has questioned Parrikar on his inefficiency to handle basic issue of the constituency like garbage and proper roads. Parrikar, on the other hand, is in the fray highlighting his performance for last two decades. He has also said that Panaji voter has an opportunity to elect chief minister of the state as their legislator.
Valpoi constituency situated in state’s north eastern belt has its candidates fighting on the agenda of development and employment. Rane who had got elected from this constituency on Congress ticket in 2017 assembly polls had resigned to join BJP. The Congress party has now fielded Roy Naik, son of senior party leader Ravi Naik in the constituency.
Sonia Gandhi-led party expects to retain its vote bank during the by-election while Rane has claimed that he would get maximum votes despite contesting on a Lotus symbol.
Team TNV