Goa polls: Eight contestants file nominations

Eight candidates, including five from the BJP, today filed their nomination papers for February 4 Assembly elections in Goa.
Siddharth Kuncolienkar (Panaji), Damodar Naik (Fatorda), Kiran Kandolkar (Thivim), Dattaprasad Naik (Taleigao) and Pandurang Madkaikar (Cumbharjua)--all from BJP filed their nominations.
Kuncolienkar and Kandolkar are sitting MLAs of the party while Madkaikar had recently quit Congress to join the saffron party.
Madkaikar had won from Cumbharjua on Congress ticket in the 2012 Assembly polls.
Rebel BJP leader Krishna Daji Salkar, vying for party ticket in Vasco constituency, filed his nomination as an Independent.
Salkar had quit BJP this week after the party announced candidature of sitting MLA Carlose Almeida for Vasco seat.

AAP nominees Molu Velip (Shiroda) and Santosh Raiturkar (Margao) also filed their nomination papers.

In last two days, Congress' Digambar Kamat (Margao) and AAP's Elvis Gomes (Cuncolim) filed their nominations.
As per the Election Commission schedule for February 4 elections, candidates can file their nominations till January 18 and can withdraw by January 21.
The counting of votes will be done on March 11.