Team Herald
PANJIM: Panjim MLA Siddharth Kunkalienkar and former Congress rebel Pandurang Madkaikar were amongst eight candidates who filed their nomination papers on Friday.
Madkaikar, who deserted Congress for BJP around 10 days ago was given the BJP ticket in Cumbarjua constituency.
Five BJP candidates, two AAP candidates and one Independent filed their nominations on the third day, adding to the two nominations filed by Congress’ Digambar Kamat and AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Elvis Gomes on Thursday.
Besides Kunkalienkar and Madkaikar, Damodar Naik (Fatorda), Kiran Kandolkar (Tivim) and Dattaprasad Naik (Taleigao) filed their nominations from BJP, whereas AAP’s Santosh Raiturkar and Molu Velip filed from Margao and Shiroda, respectively.
Rebel BJP leader Krishna Daji Salkar, who was vying for a ticket in Vasco, filed as an Independent candidate. He had quit BJP earlier this week protesting BJP’s decision to field MLA Carlos Almeida in Vasco.
Speaking of the nominations filed, Additional Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Narayan Navti said that law and order is in place in the run up to the February 4 elections.
Asked about the removal of banners and hoardings, he said that the flying squads are keeping a check. “At present there are no hoardings or banners,” he confirmed.
A day earlier, the Election Commission of India had written to the cabinet secretary calling for the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph from hoardings at some petrol pumps in Goa. Navti said they are in receipt of the information following which the matter was forwarded to the District Collector for appropriate action.
