the goan I network
PANAJI
After scrutiny of nominations, papers of seven candidates were found to be valid for the upcoming Panaji by-election which will be held on May 19. May 2 is the last day for withdrawal.
The by-election was necessitated following last month’s death of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Returning Officer Vivek released list on Tuesday which includes former minister Atanasio Monserrate (Congress) and former Panaji MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar (BJP), former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar (GSM) and Valmiki Naik (AAP) from their respective parties. Apart from these, nomination papers of three other candidates (all independents) -- Anish Bacal, Dilip Ghadi and Vijay More were also found to be valid.
Kuncolienkar filed his papers on Monday morning as did the former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar on behalf of the Goa Surkasha Manch.
Monserrate and the fourth candidate of note -- Valmiki Naik of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) -- had filed their nominations on Thursday last.
The field for the May 19 bypoll has several similarities with the one in Panjim at the time of the general assembly election in 2017.
Kuncalienkar (BJP) and Naik (AAP) were also on the EVM roster then. So was Monserrate but, this time he is contesting as Cong candidate.
