The Bharatiya Janta Party on Thursday, January 20, released its list of 34 candidates for the upcoming Goa Assembly election.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will contest from Sanquelim while former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar has been denied a ticket from Panaji. Sitting MLA Atanasio Monserrate will contest from 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.
Here are some other prominent candidates named in the BJP 's candidate list.
Fatorda - Domodar Gajanan Naik
Dabolim - Mauvin Godinho
Mayem - Premender Shet
Taligao - Jennifer Monseratte
Tivim - Neelkant Harlamkar
Siolim - Dayanand Mandrekar
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced Amit Palekar as the Aam Aadmi Party’s chief minister candidate in Goa.
Congress has announced the candidates' name for 37 seats out of 40 constituencies.
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.