Team Herald
PANJIM: As the Congress and Goa Forward Party (GFP) have come together to form a pre-poll alliance, the national party has allotted just two constituencies to the regional party led by Vijai Sardesai.
Along with this list of second list of seven candidates released by the party on Sunday evening, the Central Election Committee (CEC) has allotted Mayem and Fatorda constituencies to the GFP. The Fatorda seat is GFP's strong bastion.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao tweeted this update.
Sources said the Congress has refused to allot St Andre and Siolim seats to the GFP. Siolim constituency is, at present, represented by GFP MLA Vinod Palyekar.
In the list of Congress candidates, Rudolf Fernandes, son of ex-MLA (late) Victoria Fernandes who once ruled the constituency for a considerable period of time, has found place in the list.
Jitendra Gaonkar is the candidate from Pernem, while Rajesh Faldessai has been allotted Cumbarjua seat, Manisha Usgaonkar is the Valpoi candidate, Capt Viriato Fernandes to contest from Dabolim seat, and Olencio Simoes is allotted Cortalim whereas Avertano Furtado will contest from Navelim.
The Curtorim seat has been a strong hold of Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who just recently resigned from the party to join the Trinamool Congress. Lourenco remained a loyal soldier of the Congress until he decided to leave the party for not taking up a strong stand on various issues and neither being a strong opposition.