Goa: Congress announces first slot of candidates

Panaji, Feb 04 (IBNS) The Congress party in Goa has announced their first list of 22 candidates for the coming assembly polls on Mar 3 but kept names of 11 on hold till Sunday.

Announcing the names, party's campaign manager Mauvin Godinho told reporters that their pre poll alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is almost finalized.

NCP will contest on the remaining seven seats in 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly.

The Congress has inducted two new faces while 20 seats have been bagged by the old war horses. The surprise package was denial of ticket to party's lone woman candidate Victoria Fernandes, popularly known as 'Mummy'.

Fernandes, four time legislator and sitting Congress MLA from the sensitive St Cruz constituency has been replaced by controversial minister Atanasio Monserrate.

"The first slot of tickets was referred to the central election committee which was earlier approved by screening committee. The second slot of tickets for 11 tickets will be announced tomorrow," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Subhash Shirodkar informed.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Pratapsing Rane, GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar, Mayor of the Corporation of City of Panaji Yatin Parekh and others have made it to the list.

Ex-Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs Rajesh Patnekar and Dayanand Sopte have also been granted tickets.

With Taleigao MLA, Monserrate bagging St Cruz seat, his wife Jennifer is likely to get the Taleigao ticket.

The fate of sitting Curtorim MLA Reginald Lourenco and Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar is yet to be decided.

Clarifying on the delay in announcing tickets, Godinho said it was the party high command's decision to try evolving unity among the aspirants.

"In Curtorim constituency, we had three strong contenders... No other party has such strong links as Congress," he said.

"The party members support each other and we are confident that it will swell in the coming days. This will be a winniability factor for the March 3 polls."

Responding to a question on several scams hovering over the party, the party manager admitted that these issues were plaguing them.

(Reporting by John Edwards)