Panaji, March 30 (IANS) At least 19 candidates are in the fray for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa and none of the parties seem to be on a sure footing with the election less than three-week away.
Seven candidates are contesting for the North Goa seat, where sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shripad Naik will see a tough challenge by Congress leader Ravi Naik. In the battle, both the members of the numerically powerful Bhandari caste appear similarly matched.
While Ravi has been chief minister twice, Shripad is a three-time BJP MP and was a former union minister of state in the National Democratic Alliance government at the centre.
Similarly both are plagued by their respective weaknesses. While the Congressman has been linked to the drug mafia in a legislative committee report on drug mafia-police-politician nexus, the BJP candidate could be hit by cumulative anti-incumbency and is often seen battling allegations of lacklustre performance in parliament.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Dattaram Desai, a medical practitioner is also an activist of the yesteryears. Once a part of Shripad Naik's core team, Desai has dollops of regard in Goa's rural areas, but he appears to be lagging behind the two mainstream heavyweights.
Communist party of India (Marxist) leader Suhas Naik and former deputy chief minister Dayanand Narvekar as an Independent candidate are the other significant candidates locked in the contest, after the last date for withdrawal of nomination expired Saturday.
In South Goa constituency, the contest is even more spread out, with 12 contestants in the fray.
With the sitting Congress MP Francisco Sardinha denied a ticket for the seat, which has more often than not returned a Christian candidate, the party has fielded its legislator Aleixo Reginaldo. His biggest challenge comes from Narendra Savoikar of the BJP, who was runner up in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
While its never been easy going for the BJP in South Goa, its chances look better this time, with two Congress rebels throwing their hat in the ring.
Former chief minister Churchill Alemao resigned from the Congress after the party refused to heed his demand of allotting his daughter the seat. He is now contesting as an Independent.
The other rebel is Sardinha's son Shalom, who resigned from the party, accusing the Congress leadership of being "disrespectful" to his father by denying him a ticket.
Both are expected to nick crucial votes of the Christian community from the Congress kitty, which could prove costly for Reginaldo.
AAP's Swati Kerkar and tribal leader Govind Gaude are the other key contestants for the seat.
Goa's two Lok Sabha seats go to polls April 17.
RBI News: Reserve Bank cancels the registration of PC Financial Services, know the reason here
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken major action against PC Financial Services Pvt Ltd for disobeying instructions. The central bank has canceled its certificate of registration. Now it will not
Variety of Thandai flavours add 'colour' to Holi celebrations (Holi is on March 6)
Lucknow, March 4 (IANS) In this part of the country, like in most of northern India, Holi comes as a big ticket festival for the lovers of bacchus. So, while there is lot of colour and different
Supreme Court on GST: Parliament wanted to make GST easier for citizens, but it went astray while implementing: Supreme Court
new Delhi
Ankita Bhandari Case: All three accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment, an angry mob broke the police barricades
After a 26-month-long hearing in the Vanantara Resort case, on Friday, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge has convicted three people including the son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya
Know about Russia's corona vaccine Sputnik-V - some special things, many countries expressed confidence
Apart from Covaccine and Covishield now in India, Russia's developed Sputnik V vaccine will also soon be available to the public in the hospital. At present, it is being started in two hospitals of
20,000 fine for picketing, cancellation of admission on violence: JNU made new rules to stop protests; Punishment will be given for 17 crimes
Now protests in at New Delhi\'s Jawaharlal Nehru University, and students protesting will have to pay a fine of Rs 20,000. At the same time, students indulging in any kind of violence will be punished
239 candidates for 20 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan
Jaipur, March 30 (IANS) With the withdrawal of 46 nomination papers, 239 candidates are in the fray for 20 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan where polling will take place April 17, officials
RCB vs KKR: RCB lost the first match under Kohli's captaincy in IPL 2023, Virat himself told the culprit
Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore have faced defeat after two consecutive wins this season. This team has won four matches in eight, while it got defeated in four. RCB
These phones from Samsung to OnePlus, these companies become cheap, can be your choice
New Delhi: In the ongoing unlock between the coronavirus epidemic, the markets are getting again exciting. There is a boom in the mobile market. The production and sales of mobile have been affected
Bihar's daughter, who drove her father home by cycling 1200 km, got an offer from the Federation
Patna: Bihar's daughter Jyoti, who arrived at Darbhanga from Gurugram, Haryana, is currently the subject of discussion on social media amid her lockdown. Apart from the whole country, people abroad
