Panaji (Goa) Congress party is yet to decide their candidates to contest upcoming by election in Panaji and Valpoi constituencies while BJP has said that it is just the formality that is remaining to make public names of their contestants here.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced that the by-polls in Panaji and Valpoi constituencies would be held on August 23.
“We were expecting the dates of by-election to be little earlier as State will be celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi on August 25. But nonetheless we are well prepared to face the polls,” BJP Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar said today.
He said Chief Minsiter Manohar Parrikar would be contesting on Panaji seat and Vishwajit Rane on Valpoi. “Their names are already decided. Party’s Parliamentary board will make formal announcement about their names soon,” said Tendulkar.
He said that BJP was eagerly awaiting for these by-elections as it will help the party to escalate their tally in the assembly from 12 to 14. “I appeal all the Goans to stand behind the BJP candidates in both the constituencies,” Tendulkar said.
Congress party on the other hand is yet to decide their candidate. The party which was in talks with their former minister Atanasio Monserratte to contest against Parrikar from Panaji constituency was in a rude shock when he joined Goa Forward Party two days back.
“We are yet to decide the candidates. Congress will contest both the seats and will emerge as winner,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Shantaram Naik said.
While refused to divulge the names of any aspirants, party sources confirmed that former State Home minister Ravi Naik’s son, Roy is a front runner as the candidate in Valpoi constituency.
As far as Panaji is concerned, the party is yet to shortlist the aspirants.
The election in Valpoi was necessitated after Rane who had got elected on Congress ticket tendered his resignation as member of legislative assembly to join BJP. He is currently a minister in Manohar Parrikar led cabinet.
Then BJP legislator Siddharth Kuncolienkar had resigned as Panaji MLA to pave way for Parrikar to be member of legislative assembly. Parrikar who is Rajya Sabha member from Lucknow was sworn in as chief minister in March.
The political parties which are supporting Parrikar-led government including Goa Forward Party, MGP and Independent legislators while Congress will be fighting the election on its own without any backing from others.
Team TNV
