Two ministers, a Cong rebel among 28 filed nominations

Panaji, May 11 (UNI) Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar, who recently quit BJP to become Housing Minister in Congress-led Pratapsinh Rane government, and Power Minister Digambar Kamat are among the 31 people who filed their nomination papers today on the fourth day of opening nominations for the June 2 elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly.

With this, the total number of people who filed their nominations for the 40-member House had risen to 43 so far.

Prominent among those who filed their papers today included Congress rebel Subhash Ganesh Narvekar, brother of Law Minister Dayanand Narvekar, from Mapusa constituency as an independent candidate as he was denied ticket.

The other was Nirmala Sawant, former minister and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president who rebelled against Congress and unsuccessfully contested by-elections agianst her rival Transport Minister Pandurang Madkaikar, is again contesting from Cumbarjua as independent. Seven independents in all filed their papers today.

Mahrashtrawadi Gomanbtak Party (MGP) president Pandurang Raut filed his papers for Bicholim constituency followed by six of his party nominees at different constituencies.

Eleven BJP nominees filed their papers today. Among them were sitting member Rajesh Patnekar (Bicholim), Surresh Amonkar (Pale), Vasudeo Mang Gaonkar (Sanguem) and disqualified member and former president Rajendra Arlekar (Vasco).

Sitting Congress legislator Alex Sequera filed his papers from Loutolim, while Isidore Fernndes who rejoined Congress after quitting BJP but lost in earlier by-elections did from Poinguinim.

Goa Su-Raj party president Lobo Floriano Concesao filed from Aldona and CPI nominee Gajanan Naik from Calangute.

UNI