Team Herald
PANJIM: The process for filing of nominations for the Lok Sabha polls and by-elections in the State has begun with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) issuing notification announcing the election schedule on Thursday.
Goa is going for elections in the third phase as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) schedule. The polls for two Lok Sabha seats- North and South and three assembly constituencies- Mandrem, Shiroda and Mapusa will be held on April 23.
The last date for filing the nominations is April 4. The candidates have to submit their nomination papers before the concerned Returning Officers.
Additional CEO Narayan Sawant said that the notification for the polls is been issued in both the district. “The nomination process has begun and the last date for filing is April 4,” he said.
The scrutiny of the nominations will take place on April 5 while the last date for withdrawals in April 8.
The counting for the polls will be held on May 23.
As per the information provided by CEO, as on date total 11, 31,618 voters are eligible to cast their votes for the parliamentary elections. As far as by-elections are concerned, the total valid voters are 32,129 in Mandrem, 29,103 in Mapusa and 28,919 in Shiroda. There are altogether 276 service voters.
BJP’s South Goa candidate and sitting MP Narendra Sawaikar became the first to file his nomination papers before the South returning officer. Union Minister for Ayush and BJP’s North Goa candidate Shripad Naik is set to file his nomination papers on Friday.
Congress has fielded its president Girish Chodankar in North and former MP Francisco Sardinha in South Goa, while AAP has named Elvis Gomes from South and Pradeep Padgaonkar in North.
Similarly, MGP, the ally in the BJP led government, is also likely to field its candidates in North and South. On the other hand, Goa Suraksha Manch will also announce its candidates for the parliamentary polls on March 31.
