BJP has released the second list of candidates for Goa Polls
Gomantak Times
The BJP on Wednesday, January 26 released its second list of 6 candidates for the Goa assembly elections.
In the second list, the party has reposed faith in incumbent MLA BJP Antonio Fernandes from St Cruz where multiple candidates were in the fray.
In Cumbarjua, the party has given a ticket sitting BJP MLA Pandurang Madkaikar's wife, Janita Pandurang Madkaikar, denying the ticket to Union Minister for State Shripad Naik's son Siddhesh.
Joseph Sequeira, who quit TMC and joined BJP on Tuesday, has been fielded from Calangute. He is all set to take on Calangute heavyweight and Congress leader Michael Lobo.
Speaker and Sitting BJP MLA Rajesh Patnekar, who had earlier shown his unwillingness to contest the elections on health grounds, has been given the party's ticket from Bicholim.
Narayana G Naik will contest from Cortalim while Anthony Barbosa has been fielded from Curtorim.
With the names of 6 more candidates today, BJP has announced the names for all 40-member assembly. This is also the first time BJP has decided to contest all 40 assembly seats.
On January 20, BJP had released the first list of 34 candidates for the Goa Assembly elections.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will contest from Sanquelim while Atanasio Monserrate has been fielded Panaji.
Divya Rane, the wife of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, has been named candidate from the Poriem seat. She may face former chief minister and her father-in-law Pratap Singh Rane in the election. Vishwajit Rane will contest from Valpoi.
Former Social welfare Minister Milind Naik, who resigned as minister over alleged scandal case, has been given candidature from Mormugao.
Deputy Chief Minister Manohar 'Babu" Ajgaonkar and Pernem MLA has been given candidature from Margao. He will take on Congress MLA and leader of opposition Digambar Kamat.
In the 2017 Assembly polls, Congress had won 17 seats in the tiny coastal state to emerge as the single largest party. However, the BJP, which was in second place in terms of seats, quickly stitched an alliance with smaller parties and Independent MLAs to form its government in Goa.
The election for the 40 seats will take place on February 14, and the ballots will be counted on March 10.