BJP finalises list of 22 candidates for Goa polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced a list of 22 candidates for the forthcoming Goa polls.

The list, which was announced on Sunday night, includes names of its prominent leaders except its Member of Parliament Sripad Naik, who has refused to contest.

The party's central election committee, which met in Delhi on Sunday night with party national president Nitin Gadkari, finalised the list.

BJP national general secretary Ananth Kumar said that the meeting was attended by Parliamentary Committee Chairman L K Advani, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and all other members of the central election committee.

The BJP has entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party for the Goa polls to be held on March 3.

The party will be contesting 31 seats of the 40-member assembly, while MGP will contest 8 seats. One seat will be given for an independent candidate.

The first list has cleared the candidature of party's state chief Laxmikant Parsekar, leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar and other prominent leaders.