PANJIM: Nomination papers of 30 candidates were found valid for the Lok Sabha and by-polls in three Assembly constituencies in the State. Election officers rejected 14 nominations during the scrutiny process on Friday.
The elections for two Parliamentary seats – North and South – and by-elections in three State Assembly constituencies – Mandrem, Shiroda and Mapusa are scheduled on April 23. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 8.
The scrutiny process in Shiroda assumed much interest after BJP candidate Subhash Shirodkar and Goa Democratic Labour Party candidate Harishchandra Naik objected to MGP candidate Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar’s nomination. The scrutiny, which went on up to 6pm, finally cleared Dhavalikar’s candidature.
In all 44 candidates had submitted 73 nomination papers. Post scrutiny, the valid nominations are 30, which include 12 for candidates the Lok Sabha and 18 for the by-elections.
Six candidates each are in the fray in North and South Goa seats now. Four nominations filed by Nilesh Cabral (BJP-South), Dayanand Mandrekar (BJP-North), Prasad Amonkar (INC-North), Yemane D’Souza (INC- South) were declared null and void.
For the by-elections, there are seven candidates in Mapusa, six in Shiroda and five in Mandrem. The nomination papers of the dummy candidates failed to clear the scrutiny. Voting will take place on April 23 between 7.00am and 6.00pm.
