PANAJI: Two sitting BJP MLAs are likely to be denied nominations for the forthcoming assembly elections.

In the last assembly elections held in 2007, 14 were elected on BJP ticket. Of these, Rajesh Patnekar and Dayanand Sopte - MLAs from Bicholim and Pernem - quit the BJP two months ago to join the Congress.

A couple of independent surveys have already been conducted by the BJP and based on the reports, 10 MLAs will be renominated for tickets, a party functionary said. The exception will be their Mayem MLA Anand Shet and Sanguem MLA Vasudev Meng Gaonkar, sources said.

After several rounds of discussions, the party's core group has decided to field candidates in around 32-33 constituencies while the others will be for alliance partners. In one or two constituencies, the party will support independent candidates. One of them will be Nirmala Sawant in Cumbarjua against Panduring Madkaikar of the Congress.

Sources in the party have confirmed that Vishnu Wagh, who recently quit the Congress to join the BJP, will contest from San Andre constituency against Francis Silveira of the Congress. The BJP had long been toying with the idea of giving the ticket to former minister Carmo Pegado until Wagh came in the picture.

Former Vasco MLA and party's spokesman Rajendra Arlekar, who lost the 2007 polls to Jose Philip D'souza, will be contesting from the reserved constituency of Pernem.

From Vasco, the BJP is nominating former chairperson of Mormugao municipal council Carlos Almeida, sources said adding that the party has around six candidates from the Catholic community on its list.

Besides renominating Francisco D'Souza from Mapusa, the party has decided to give tickets to Glen Ticlo (Aldona), Michael Lobo (Calangute), Nilesh Cabral (Curchorem) and John Monteiro (Cuncolim).