Shiv Sena releases first list of 9 candidates; fields former Goa RSS chief son from Panaji

A day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its first list, Shiv Sena has announced the names of 9 candidates that will be contesting in the next month's Goa Assembly elections.

The list included state Shiv Sena chief Jitest Kamat, who would contest from Mapusa while Shailendra Velingkar, son of former RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar, has been named party's candidate from Panaji.

Other names that feature in the list include Subhash Kerkar from Pernem, Vincent Pereira from Siolim, Govind Govekar from Aldona, Gurudas Goankar from Poriem, Devidas Goankar Valpoi, Maruti Shirgaonkar from Vasco and Aleixy Fernandes from Quepem.

Announcing the first list, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the party has given chance to a fresh face. "Our party has a clean image and Shiv Sena will create history in Goa for this election," he said.

Talking about Utpal Parrikar, whose naming was missing from the first list of BJP's candidates for Goa polls, Sanjay Raut said, "if Utpal Parrikar decides to contest from Panjim, and if he remains s frim from on his decision till the end, then Shailendra will not contest from Panjim."

Earlier, the senior Shiv Sena leader had urged all the opposition to support Utpal if he decides to contest as an independent candidate from Panjim.

Speaking about TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee remark that senior Congress leader P Chidambaram should resign from the party if BJP forms the government, Raut said Chidambaram should not be held accountable as "he is executing the decisions of party high command."

Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who are partners in the Maharashtra government, have announced a pre-poll alliance for the Goa assembly elections.

The NCP on Thursday announced its first list of four candidates for the Goa Assembly elections. The list included state NCP chief Jose Philip who would contest from Dabolim.

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.