BJP, Congress poll-ready in Goa, say leaders

Panaji, March 10 (IANS) Two Lok Sabha seats and by-elections to three Assembly constituencies in Goa will be held on April 23, state Chief Electoral Officer Kunal (he does not use a surname) told reporters on Sunday.

The official also said 11,31,618 voters were eligible to cast vote in the coastal state.

By-elections for Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa Assembly seats will be held on April 23 along with the Lok Sabha polls. Nominations should be filed by March 28, last date for withdrawal is April 8. The counting of votes will be on May 23.

By-elections to Shiroda and Mandrem Assembly constituencies were necessitated due to resignation of Congress MLAs last year who later joined the BJP.

The by-election to Mapusa Assembly constituency has been caused by the death of BJP legislator and former deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza earlier this year.

Speaking to IANS, state BJP General Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavde said the party was ready for the vote.

"We were expecting a slightly early date. But April 23 is good for us. The party is poll-ready for both Assembly and Lok Sabha votes," Tanavde said.

Goa Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said the party was expecting the poll dates to be announced much earlier.

"We were expecting the announcement much earlier. We welcome the dates. We are prepared and in four-five days names of candidates will be announced," Kawthankar said.