AAP announces second list of eight ZP poll candidates

PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday announced its second list of eight candidates for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, taking the total number of its declared nominees to 22 out of 50 seats.
The party said the move reflects its seriousness and preparation to challenge the BJP in the grassroots polls.
The second list includes Pujan Malvankar (Anjuna), Carol Fernandes (Calangute), Arvind Tendulkar (Penha de Franca), Ujjwala Naik (St Lawrence), Avinash Jadhav (Querim), Sarita Panjikar (Veling Priol), Clena Fernandes (Curtorim), and Joseph Peixote (Guirdolim).
AAP's State Convenor Amit Palekar said the party is committed to fielding “fresh faces who genuinely wish to serve Goa”. He stressed that the party’s candidates are grounded, accessible, and focused on solving real issues. “Goa needs new leadership and AAP is giving them that platform,” he added.
AAP Working President and national spokesperson Valmiki Naik emphasised that the party had chosen candidates from within its volunteer base. “These tickets are given to volunteers who earned the trust of people — not to parachute candidates,” Naik said.
Gerson Gomes, also a Working President, highlighted the diverse backgrounds of the nominees. “Our candidates come from social work, education, business, and community leadership. Their commitment to the people is what makes this list strong,” he said.
The AAP leaders reiterated that the party is contesting the ZP elections with a people-first approach, focusing on healthcare, corruption-free governance, transparency, youth welfare, and village-level development.
Earlier this month, AAP had released its first list of 14 candidates, which included nominees from constituencies such as Tivim, Colvale, and Aldona. That announcement had marked the party’s entry into the ZP race, with leaders stressing that the candidates were selected after consultations with local units and volunteers.
The first list had already signalled AAP’s intent to expand its presence in Goa’s rural belt, where ZP elections are seen as a test of grassroots strength.
With two lists now declared, AAP has covered nearly half the constituencies, and the party said the remaining candidates will be announced shortly as the campaign intensifies ahead of polling.