MARGAO
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, who was spotted in his home village Carmona at a polling booth to cast his vote, has said that Benaulim has created a history of sorts with the MLA staying away from the panchayat polls in the true spirit of Swaraj “ power to the people.
Unlike his counterparts in other parts of the State, Venzy claimed he has not fielded any panel in the seven village panchayats that went to the polls on Wednesday. “I have not been involved in the grassroots election to send a clear message that panchayat elections are meant for the people at the grassroots and that the people should have the freedom to choose their representatives without any intervention from the MLAs,” he said.
He added: “Before elections we have been saying that MLAs should not intervene in panchayat polls. Today, we have shown that panchayats should be formed by the local people, wherein they contest the polls without fear from anyone.”
Venzy, however, said he would work with the newly-elected panchayat members as a team after the elections and deliver to the people. “We believe that Swaraj is power to the people. Before the election, AAP had been insisting on Swaraj for the people in the villages. We have not deviated from the concept as we have allowed the people in the village to choose the representatives of their choice,” he added.
