Key players in Goa elections

Goa chief minister since 2014. A BJP leader, Parsekar succeeded Manohar Parrikar; he is a member of Goa Assembly from Mandrem constituency. Parsekar is credited with building the BJP support base in the state along with Parrikar - the party was virtually a non-entity in Goa. Parsekar has strong connections with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS. (PTI photo)

Union Defence minister, former chief minister and probably the most influential leader of Goa. He is a member of Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. Parrikar joined the RSS at a very young age and was deputed to the BJP to fight the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which held considerable sway in the state. His persistence, discipline and progressive thought made PM Modi pick Parrikar as defence minister at the Centre replacing Arun Jaitley. He is actively campaigning for the BJP in Goa for the assembly polls. (PTI photo)

Aam Aadmi Party's chief ministerial face, Gomes is a former IGP (prisons) who took voluntary retirement last year. He is contesting from Conculim in South Goa. AAP has pitted Gomes against Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on grounds of honest governance and a clean image since December 19 last year, when party leader Kejriwal announced him as AAP's chief ministerial candidate. (PTI photo)

Elections will be held in Goa on February 4. And in a move that could queer the pitch for the ruling BJP, MGP, Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) and NDA ally Shiv Sena have formed a "grand alliance" for elections. While GSM was floated by RSS rebel Subhash Velingkar, MGP, the oldest regional outfit of the state, recently severed its ties with the BJP and pulled out its two ministers from the Laxmikant Parsekar cabinet. The alliance has declared Sudin as its chief ministerial candidate. (PTI photo)

The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the elections in Goa. While security has been beefed up, especially for tourists visiting the state, the Election Commission has said that it will monitor all election rallies through live-streaming and web casting. The commission has also decided to have 'live' streaming from all the polling stations spread across 40 constituencies. (PTI photo)