Team Herald
PANJIM: A total of 250 candidates will be on the ballots in the 40 Assembly constituencies for the February 4 elections. South Goa will have 131 candidates, while 119 will battle it out in North Goa.
There are no straight fights, and Calangute is the only seat which will see a triangular contest between BJP, Congress and AAP.
While 405 nominations were filed, 272 remained after scrutiny and on Saturday, the final day for withdrawal, 22 candidates backed out from the fray.
“The maximum number of candidates are in Velim constituency (12) and the least are in Calangute (3),” Additional Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Narayan Navti told media persons. The 2012 elections had 202 candidates in the fray.
BJP has fielded 36 candidates and will be supporting two independents, while Congress is contesting in 37 seats. Nationalist Congress Party has named 16 candidates and the MGP-GSM-Shiv Sena alliance has fielded 26. There are two candidates from the United Goans, three from Goa Su-Raj Party, four from Goa Vikas Party. AAP has fielded candidates in 39 seats.
The maximum number of withdrawals was in Fatorda where four candidates backed out.
Following Velim’s 12 candidates, Cortalim and St Andre have 10 each, while St Cruz and Dabolim have nine each, Pernem, Siolim, Mayem, Sanguem and Vasco have eight each.
Constituencies that have seven candidates in the fray are Mandrem, Mapusa, Panjim, Sanquelim, Benaulim, Navelim and Cuncolim. There are six candidates each in Saligao, Porvorim, Shiroda, Mormugao and Fatorda, and five candidates each in Bicholim, Aldona, Cumbharjua, Poriem, Ponda, Marcaim, Nuvem, Curtorim, Quepem and Canacona. There are four candidates each in Sanvordem, Curchorem, Margao, Priol, Valpoi, Taleigao and Tivim.
A total of 11.08 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in 1649 polling stations. Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be introduced in all constituencies.
