Seven candidates in fray for Panaji, Valpoi bypolls

A total of seven candidates are in fray for the upcoming bypolls in Panaji and Valpoi constituencies scheduled for August 23.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is contesting the election from Panaji seat.
He has been representing this seat for more than two decades till 2015 before being elevated to the union cabinet.
Of the total 11 candidates, who filed their nominations, four were declared null and void during the scrutiny held on August 7, an official from chief electoral office said here.
Since no nomination was withdrawn on Wednesday, which was the last day to do so, seven candidates including four in Panaji and three in Valpoi will fight it out to enter the Goa House.

In Panaji constituency, Parrikar from BJP, Girish Chodankar (Congress), Anand Shirodkar (Goa Suraksha Manch) and Kenneth Silveira (Independent) are in fray.

While in Valpoi, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on BJP ticket is pitted against Roy Naik of Congress and another independent candidate Rohidas Gaonkar.
A total of 51,032 voters are eligible to cast their vote that include 26,058 female voters and 24,974 male voters, during the by-election in both the constituencies.
The election in Panaji was necessitated after BJP MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar resigned to make way for Parrikar and in Valpoi, Vishwajit Rane had resigned as MLA to join BJP.