Goa polls: BJP prepares list of 40 candidates

Panaji, Feb 3: Even as the talks of forging a pre-poll alliance with Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party (MGP) are underway, BJP in Goa has prepared a list of its candidates for the March 3 Assembly polls, sources said on Friday.

Goa BJP Election Committee, which last night met under state chief Laxmikant Parsekar here, shortlisted the candidates for 40 constituencies, they said. According to sources, the list has been sent to Delhi where central election committee of the party will take a final call on the same.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari is expected to arrive in the coastal state tomorrow even as the saffron party is trying hard to iron out differences with MGP, the oldest regional party, over seat allocation. MGP which is pulling out from the Digambar Kamat-led Congress government has demanded six seats to seal the deal with opposition BJP.

The party minister Sudin Dhavalikar yesterday resigned from the Cabinet. Meanwhile, apparently upset over MGP's demand which they consider as "too step" to accommodate, a section of leaders in BJP is of the opinion to go alone in the polls. PTI RPS NSK

PTI