Cong says unacceptable; BJP ecstatic over differences
PANAJI
In a sign of exasperation over lingering seat sharing talks with its INDIA bloc partner Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday declared party candidate for the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency. The development has sparked political buzz in Goa ahead of parliamentary polls.
With talks making no headway with Congress, AAP declared the name of Venzy Viegas, a sitting MLA from Benaulim assembly seat for South Goa. The decision has rattled Congress while BJP is rejoicing the fall-out of the INDIA bloc – not just in Goa but in many other States too.
AAP, however, stood strongly with Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) claiming Viegas as INDIA bloc candidate; even as Congress Goa unit declined to accept it. The fielding of Viegas also indicated that his candidature was not discussed with Congress.
The announcement was made after the Political Affairs Committee meeting led by AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
In the 2019 general elections, Elvis Gomes of AAP finished third by bagging 20,891 votes behind Congress’ sitting MP Francisco Sardinha and BJP’s Narendra Sawaikar. In 2014, Congress had lost both the seats to BJP. South Goa constituency has remained more or less loyal to Congress but AAP standing out in two constituencies during the 2022 Assembly elections, cannot be ignored.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Goa chief Amit Palekar rued that there is less time remaining for the polls and stressed that with time running out, it will become difficult to contest polls. “The talks with the INDIA bloc are going on for months. The last meeting with Congress was held almost 30 days back. We are tired now with no result. We have to contest the elections and win it. We do not have to contest elections just for the sake of it,” he said.
“People have hope from AAP and we have to stand by it,” he added. He said that with Congress leadership busy to hold meeting and decide on seat sharing, AAP decided to field candidate from South Goa. He clarified that Viegas is the nominee of the INDIA bloc.
Palekar also appealed to other parties in the Opposition to support Viegas. “We wanted to give a new, clean, and loyal face to the people; Venzy is widely accepted in South Goa,” he stated.
However, Congress does not believe so. Congress chief Amit Patkar is very clear that when the INDIA bloc talks for seat sharing are on, the political strategy behind declaring candidates is “not known” or “unacceptable”.
The political rift over seat sharing between Congress and AAP was wide open during Kejriwal’s visit to Goa in January. While Kejriwal announced that the party will contest one seat from Goa in alliance with Congress, the Indian National Congress (INC) Goa unit leaders – Patkar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao confronted it stating that the party will go solo and contest both the seats.
On the other hand, BJP is rejoicing, who has set its target to win South Goa seat with over 60,000 vote margin. “INDIA bloc has collapsed in Goa. AAP has already announced its candidature. So this shows there is no united force. People do not have confidence in Congress,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said during an event in Margao.
The AAP has highlighted Viegas’ extensive experience across various sectors, including health and education, as instrumental in garnering support for his candidacy. “The people of South Goa have seen his work and requested that he be nominated to contest for the Goa Lok Sabha seat. He is people’s choice and we have accepted people’s demand,” Palekar said.
