Panaji: The congress party on Saturday announced former Union minister Ramakant Khalap as its candidate from north Goa parliamentary constituency and Viriato Fernandes from South Goa.
The announcement was made on Saturday afternoon by All India Congress Committee General Secretary K C Venugopal, ending the prolonged wait by INDIA Alliance for its candidate in Goa. The alliance of like-minded parties have agreed to field Congress candidate from North and South Goa constituencies.
76-year-old Khalap was earlier elected as Member of Parliament on Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party ticket from North Goa from 1996-1998.
He was Union minister of state for law in Rajiv Gandhi cabinet. He had later left the MGP to join Congress.
As a law minister then, Khalap enacted the Arbitration Act of India and drafted amendments to The Code of Civil Procedure of India and Code of Criminal Procedures of India. He also introduced Women’s Reservation Bill in the Parliament.
Viriato Fernandes who is fielded from South Goa is ex-Indian Navy officer.His profile on X handle introduces him as “Indian Navy Officer (Retd), Kargil War Soldier, Mechanical Engineer, Aeronautics Engineering Specialization, Double MBA, Dabolim, Goa.”
Fernandes had unsuccessfully contested Goa legislative assembly 2022 poll from Dabolim constituency.
