PANJIM: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) became the second party after Congress to declare its list of candidates for the upcoming Goa Assembly elections.
Two former ministers Mahadev Naik and Alina Saldanha and two vice-presidents Venzy Viegas and Pratima Countiho figure in the first list of 10 candidates released on Friday.
However, former Deputy Chief Minister Dayanand Narvekar, who is AAP campaign committee head and vice president Valmiki Naik do not figure in the first list.
Both, Naik and Alina will contest from their traditional Shiroda and Cortalim Assembly constituencies respectively.
The other candidates are as follows: St Cruz- Amit Palekar, Poriem- Vishwajeet K Rane, Valpoi- Satyavijay Naik, Dabolim-Premanand `Babu’ Nanoskar, Benaulim- Venzy Viegas, Navelim-Pratima Coutinho, Sanguem- Abhijeet Dessai and Curtorim- Domnic Gaunkar.
Barring Venzy Viegas, all the candidates had joined AAP last year while, Viegas, Adv Palekar, Pratima and Abhijeet Dessai will contest the Assembly elections for the first time.
Also Vishwajit K Rane, Satyavijay Naik and Premanand Nanoskar had contested Assembly elections in the past but as candidates of other parties while Domnic Gaunkar also contested unsuccessfully as independent.
Delhi MLA and AAP Goa desk in-charge Atishi tweeted, “Happy to announce the first list of candidates of AAP for the upcoming 2022 Assembly elections in Goa. This is the beginning of a change in Goa’s politics”.
