In TMC's first list: Luizinho Faleiro to take on Vijai in Fatorda

The Goa Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday, January 18, declared its first list of election candidates announcing 11 names. However, what took many by surprise is the decision to field Rajya Sabha MP and seven-time MLA Luizinho Faleiro from Fatorda instead of his traditional bastion of Navelim.

Fatorda is the stronghold of Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, who have entered in a pre-poll alliance with Congress for next month's Goa Assembly elections.

TMC threw in another surprise by nominating Jagdish Bhode as its candidate for St Andre. Bhode joined TMC barely minutes after he resigned from GFP on Tuesday following to decision of Congress to declare its candidate in San Andre.

Former Chief Minister and sitting MLA Churchill Alemao will contest from his traditional seat of Benaulim while his daughter, Valanka, has been given the party ticket from Navelim.

Former BJP MLA and former working president of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) Kiran Kandolkar was named the TMC candidate from the Aldona while Sandeep Vazakar will contest from Porvorim.

The other candidates announced by TMC includes: Ganapat Gaonkar (Poriem), Gilbert Rodrigues (Cortalim), Jose Cabral (Nuvem) and Dr Jorson Fernandes (Cuncolim).

Meanwhile, TMC has announced a 69-member state executive committee under the chairmanship of Kiran Kandolkar. The party named nine vice presidents, including actor Nafisa Ali, and 12 general secretaries. It also announced an 11-member Goa Trinamool Youth Congress Committee and a 13-member Goa Trinamool Mahila Congress Committee.