The BJP which has made considerable inroads in the absence of regional parties in the contest is also helped by large scale rebellion among Congressmen. With CM Luizinho Faleiro unable to accommodate more than five of his 24 MLAs into the Cabinet, dissidence is rampant in the party.

The CM's decision to field former union law minister Ramakant Khalap, who had defected from the MGP, from the Panaji seat has not gone down well with party loyalists. The presence of former chief minister Wilfred D'Souza on a Nationalist Congress party ticket can only make the result a narrow one since D'Souza is not campaigning seriously. Reports from the Catholic Christian stronghold of Salcete indicate that rebel Congressmen are resorting to numerous methods to influence voter turnout.

Both LS seats will witness interesting contests withmiscellaneous outfits like Shiv Sena and Akhil Bharatiya Sena and some independents also in the fray. 9.4 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in Sunday's polls.