Filing of nomination ends in Goa

Panaji, May 15 (UNI) A record number of 179 candidates, most of them independents, filed their nomination papers, on the last day today, for the June 2 elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly.

With this, the total number of nominations filed so far has risen to 336.

The nominations will be scrutinised tomorrow, while May 18 is the last date for the withdrawal.

Former minister Babush Monserrate filed his nominations both as an independent and member of the UGDP even as he filed the papers two days ago as Congress nominee.

He had earlier resigned from the primary memberhip of the Congress at the eleventh hour, posing a challenge to the party.

Another prominent candidate Viswajit Rane, son of chief minister Pratapsinh Rane and GPCC general secretary, filed his papers too for Valpoi after resigning from the party.

Two BJP women nominees - Anjali Srikant Malik (Calangute) and Kunda Chodankar (Aldona), besides Janata Dal(S) president Vinayak Naik (Tivim) were among others who filed their papers on the last day today.

UNI