PWD Minister & Dy Speaker quit BJP after being denied ticket; to contest as Independents

resentment in BJP camp over ticket distribution escalated as two more MLAs- Isidore Fernandes and Deepak Pauskar resigned from party. While Fernandes was  Deputy Speaker of Goa Assembly, Pauskar was serving as Minister for Public Works Department, Handicrafts. Textile and Coir and Goa Gazetteer in Pramod Sawant-led Ministry. As per sources, Fernandes and Pauskar are likely to contest as Independent candidates from Canacona and Sanvordem respectively as BJP fielded Ramesh Tawkar and Ganesh Gaonkar in se constituencies.

Earlier on Thursday, sources told Republic TV that former Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar was also miffed after BJP chose to give a ticket to Dayanand Sopte from Mandram and called an urgent meeting of his supporters. In anor jolt to party, Deputy CM  Chandrakant Kavlekar's wife and Mahila Morcha Vice President Savitri Kavlekar resigned from party and is set to contest as an Independent from Sanguem seat. Apart from aforesaid MLAs, 5 or legislators- Wilfred D'Sa, Michael Lobo, Pravin Zantye, Alina Saldanha and Carlos Almeida have quit BJP in a months' time. 

BJP releases 1st list of candidates

Announcing its first list of 34 candidates for Goa Assembly election a day earlier, BJP revealed that CM Pramod Sawant will contest from Sanquelim seat. Sawant commenced his electoral journey with a loss in 2008 by-election to Pale constituency but managed to win from Sanquelim in 2012 and 2017 Assembly polls. Moreover, Deputy CM Chandrakant Kavlekar has been nominated from Quepem once again. 

or Deputy CM- Manohar Azgaonkar who is sitting MLA from Pernem will take on Congress' potential CM face Digambar Kamar in Margao. Journalist Savio Rodrigues, who is founder of Goa Chronicle, will fight polls from Velim constituency. Overall, list includes 11 OBC, 9 Christan and 6 new candidates. Aiming at ensuring equate representation of disvantaged sections of society, party has fielded 3 ST candidates and 1 SC candidate on general seats.

As per election schedule announced by Election Commission of India on January 8, state will go to polls on February 14 whereas counting of votes shall take place on March 10. With 11,56,762 registered voters on electoral rolls, polling stations have been increased to 1722. In view of COVID-19 situation, all physical rallies and roshows have been banned until January 15 and  polling time has been increased by 1 hour.