BJP declared its first list of 34 candidates on Thursday in New Delhi, dropping two cabinet ministers – PWD minister Deepak Prabhu Pauskar and Water Resources Minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues. Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes who crossed over from Congress to BJP has made way for former Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar. Deputy Chief Minister and Pernem MLA Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar has been shifted to Margao. He will take on Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat.
A major surprise in the BJP list is renomination of former Social Welfare Minister Milind Naik from Mormugao. Naik had resigned as minister over alleged sex scandal case. In Panjim, Utpal Parrikar, son of architect of the BJP rule in Goa Manohar Parrikar, does not find a place as candidate for Panjim Constituency. Instead Atanasio Babush Monserrate the sitting MLA of Panjim who crossed over from the Congress to the BJP finds a place. His wife Jennifer Monserrate who also crossed over to the BJP has been nominated by the BJP for Taleigao.
On giving two tickets to Monserrate family Devendra Fadnavis said, both won and both joined BJP. In Taleigao Jennifer has her own identity. BJP says sitting MLA was given a ticket in Panjim, while Utpal was given two options. He declined one option and is considering the other option.
The BJP has given two tickets to the Rane family with Vishwajit Rane nominated from Valpoi and his wife Divya Rane nominated from Poriem, from where Congress veteran and former Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane is the sitting MLA. Divya is mostly likely to be pitted against her father in law incase Pratapsingh Rane decides to contest from Poriem.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is BJP’s chief ministerial face has been renominated from Sanquelim.
Those from among the 10 Congress MLAs who crossed over to the BJP and who have been renominated are Nilkant Harlankar(Tivim), Atanasio Monserrate ( Panjim), Jennifer Monserrate(Taleigao), Francis Silveira(St Andre), Clafasio Dias(Cuncolim) and Chandrakant Kavalekar(Quepem)
BJP Candidates for Bicholim, Calangute, St Cruz, Cumbarjua, Cortalim, Curtorim seats have not been declared.
The breakup of BJP ticket distribution is as follows — 3STs, 2 SCs, 11 OBCs, 9 Catholics and 9 from General Category out of its first list of 34 candidates declared on Thursday. Among these 2 are women candidates.
