Goa elections: JGP unveils list of 12 candidates for Goa assembly polls

PANAJI: A musician, a priest and an actor are among the 12 candidates offered by the Jagrut Goemkarancho Fauz, a conglomeration of civil society groups, for the March 3 Goa assembly polls.

Paul Fernandes, a musician who has been entertaining people through his stageshows, has been fielded by the party from Saligao constituency, 10 kms away from here.

"I am in the entertainment industry. We don't fool people for making money in the entertainment industry," Fernandes said taking a dig at politicians.

JGF (Army of alert Goans) today held a press conference in Panaji to unveil its list of 12 candidates.

"We have offered clean candidates, who are a better option for the people. We are not involved in the business of upmanship," said Yatish Naik, a lawyer and activist of JGF.

Amongst all candidates, Fr Bismark Dias has created a history by being the first catholic priest to contest in Goa legislative assembly elections.

Fr Dias is contesting from Cumbharjua constituency, which is predominantly a Hindu belt.

Dias has worked out an unique election campaign. The priest is going around appealing Goans to perform at least one act of kindness on the election day.

"Our aim is 10,000 acts of kindness on the day," he said. The election manifesto has appealed that even those voters who do not want to vote for him (Fr Bismark) should involve themselves in at least one act of kindness.

"Do any act like feeding a hungry person or clearing plastic garbage," he said.

Soon after he filed his nomination, Dias' house was attacked by some unidentified people. A police case has been registered but no one has been arrested yet.