Vow to rally citizens and field strong opposition to ruling BJP
Social activists gathered for a meeting in Margao on Aug 22.
MARGAO
Social activists from across the State on Friday resolved to form an association to launch a movement aimed at bringing about a change in government in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.
At a meeting held in Margao, the activists decided to reach out to every corner of the State to educate voters on their rights and guide them on how to select and elect capable candidates to the Legislative Assembly.
Political commentator Adv Radharao Gracias, addressing the media after the meeting, said the activists plan to float a political front to “save Goa from BJP rule”.
“We don’t want another five-year rule by the BJP in Goa. The social activists will be organising the people of Goa to select the candidates in their respective constituencies,” said Gracias.
The gathering resolved to hold another meeting of activists from North Goa to carry the movement forward.
The meeting was attended by several activists including Swapnesh Sherlekar, Sudip Dalvi, Pratima Coutinho, Meesho D’Costa, Kennedy Afonso, Walter Lobo, Zarinha Da Cunha, Adv Vishal Gajanan Naik, Mahesh Nayak and others.
Gracias told the gathering that the convention had a two-fold purpose: to bring together like-minded activists and to mobilise citizens to select candidates of their choice to contest the elections.
“Only when we show our strength will parties such as the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party come to the activists for help. I know the Congress will not listen to us since they have too many leaders who have set their eyes on the Chief Minister’s post,” he said.
Gracias added that he, along with Adv Anacleto Viegas and Shravan Dubhashi, was ready to invest time in organising activists across constituencies.
Adv Viegas, in his address, emphasised unity among activists and urged them to avoid divisive issues such as language and script. Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar said efforts should be made to ensure that activists or the opposition field a common candidate against the BJP.
“As activists, we can also recommend the names of prospective candidates to the political parties so that a common candidate is fielded against the BJP in the election,” he added.
However, Sherlekar cautioned that since political parties follow their own processes in candidate selection, activists wishing to contest should join parties well in advance instead of waiting until the last moment.
