Panaji: With eight aspirants withdrawing their nominations, a total of 69 candidates remain in the fray for the elections to the 30-ward Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), scheduled for March 11.
The State Election Commission released the final list of candidates.
The panel backed by BJP’s Panaji MLA and Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate has fielded candidates in all 30 wards.
The Utpal Parrikar-backed ‘Ami Panjekar’ panel has fielded 29 candidates. In addition, a few Independent candidates remain in the contest.
Ward number XXVI has the highest number of candidates, with five in the fray. There will be straight contests between two candidates in 23 wards, while six wards will witness triangular fights.
Earlier on Thursday, ‘Ami Panjekar’ panel leader Dattaprasad Naik alleged that the Panaji MLA and his associates were pressuring candidates from their panel to withdraw nominations.
Naik claimed that as many as 12 candidates from the ‘Ami Panjekar’ panel were coerced, alleging that Monserrate and his associates misused government machinery to intimidate their candidates.
We would file a complaint with the State Election Commission regarding the matter, Naik said.
