Suspense over Salcete candidates:BJP, Cong keep cards close to chest

NT Reporter

Margao

Despite the State Election Commission announcing the commencement of nomination filing on Monday, the BJP and Congress are hesitating to
unveil their candidates for the nine Salcete taluka constituencies.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has indicated that the BJP will back a few independent candidates and that the party’s second Zilla Panchayat (ZP) candidate list will be released on Tuesday. Congress president Amit Patkar said their list will be announced by late evening. However, neither party has declared candidates for the minority-dominated Salcete taluka.

These strategic moves by both parties have left voters wondering.

Sources said the BJP and Congress are treading cautiously, as neither wants to be the first to release its list for Salcete’s nine constituencies — Raia, Nuvem, Colva, Benaulim, Davorlim, Velim, Curtorim, Guirdolim and Navelim.

It has emerged that the BJP is likely to support some independents while fielding one or two of its own candidates.

Conversely, the alliance between the Congress, Goa Forward Party and Revolutionary Goans Party is yet to be confirmed, and no clarity has emerged on seat-sharing among opposition leaders.

The ZP elections are gaining momentum not only because they are being contested on party lines — even though ZPs are often viewed as a “toothless tiger for no devolution of powers and subjects” — but also because regional parties are entering the fray ahead of the Goa Municipal and Goa Assembly elections. The ZP polls will be conducted via ballot paper.

Currently, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Goa Forward Party have announced candidates for some Salcete seats. While the AAP is contesting independently and has declared candidates in these constituencies, the BJP and Congress continue to work on their strategies.