Panaji: Congress party has almost finalized names of BJP returned politician Mahadev Naik as their candidate for Shiroda By-poll, while for Mandrem the party has zeroed down on Ramakant Khalap, one of the veteran in this field.
The Central Election Committee of the party which is expected to meet today will announce these names, while party has begun search for Mapusa and Panaji assembly constituencies.
Sources stated that Naik had joined Congress with a pre-condition that he would be given ticket in Shiroda, as the party do not have any formidable face to field in this constituency abandoned by their former legislator Subhash Shirodkar.
The party had marathon discussion about Mandrem constituency before finally deciding on the candidate of Khalap, who has represented this area on MGP ticket earlier. Sources stated that the party felt that Khalap would be able to give challenge to BJP’s Dayanand Sopte.
The party has kept its search open for Mapusa candidate while series of meetings are held to decide candidate in Panaji constituency.
