Goa assembly polls: Shiv Sena to contest in 22 seats

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut informed on Wednesday that the party will field candidates in 22 seats for the Goa Assembly elections scheduled to be held in February next year. Raut was addressing reporters after arriving at Dabolim airport. He is in the state to take stock of the party's preparedness for the upcoming elections.

"Goa and Maharashtra share an emotional relationship. The way Sena is ruling Maharashtra, it will rule Goa as well," the party's Rajya Sabha member said. Presently, the Shiv Sena does not have a single legislator in the assembly. Though the party fought the 2017 election with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and fielded candidates in three seats, it failed to win any. Instead, the Congress bagged 17 seats and the BJP merely 13. But the BJP allied with regional parties and formed a government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar.

The Aam Aadmi Party has also announced that they will contest in the upcoming polls. The party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced free power up to 300 units/month and 80% reservation in jobs for locals if the party is voted to power. The Delhi CM was on a visit to Panaji.

Trinamool Congress's Derek O'Brien has also informed that his party would contest the upcoming Goa assembly polls. The party is in touch with several local leaders, he added.