202 candidates in fray for 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly

Panaji, May 18 (UNI) As many as 202 candidates are in the fray for the June 2 elections to the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly, with three constituencies witnessing straight contests.

Thirty-four candidates, including Laxman Saverdekar from the prestigious Valpoi constituency in North Goa, withdrew from the contest on the last day of withdrawal of nomintions today.

Seven constituencies, including Poriem and Valpoi, will witness a triangular contest. In Poriem, Chief Minister Pratapinh Rane is contesting for the seventh consecutive term, while in neighbouring Valpoi, his son Viswajit Rane is pitted against BJP and MGP nominees.

In Navelim, Industries Minister Luizinho Faleiro is pitted against Save Goa Front chief Churchill Alemao. Both are former Chief Ministers.

The maximum number of nine candidates are in the fray in the Santa Cruz, Vasco da-Gama and Aldona constituencies, followed by eight in Tivim and Mormugao.

As many as ten constituencies will witness a four-cornered battle, followed by four constituencies in five-cornered fight, five in six-cornered battle and seven in six-cornered fights.

The main fight is, however, considered to be between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, both have fielded 32 candidates each.

In all, there are 9,95,976 valid voters in Goa, with 4,97,669 being men and the rest females.

UNI