Fact File

The tiny Goa state 8212; which sends two representatives to the Lok Sabha 8212; is for the first time facing a general election with no regional parties in the contest.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which ruled the state for 17 years, has been wiped out in the new political realignments. While the United Goans8217; Democratic Party, which has contested Lok Sabha polls since 1996, was absorbed into the Congress after the June Assembly elections. So this time it8217;s a race between the Congress and BJP.