Aam Admi Party leaders inducting Prashant Naik in Cuncolim.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Post the exit of bureaucrat-turned-politician Elvis Gomes from the party, the Aam Admi Party has opened a new chapter in his home constituency, Cuncolim by inducting journalist Prashant Naik into the party fold.
Elvis was not just AAP state convenor but party’s chief ministerial candidate in the 2017 Assembly polls when he threw his hat in the electoral ring after quitting government service.
Since his exit from the Aam Admi Party in December last year, AAP was on the job to put the party back on tracks in Cuncolim, with source saying the party has picked Prashant Naik to take it forward for the 2022 electoral battle.
Observers say that Prashant managed to put up a good show, displaying show of strength during his induction in the party, indicates that he will be the face of the party in Cuncolim constituency, if not the party candidate in 2022.
Party national leader Durgesh Pathak, who had inducted Prashant in the party in the presence of other party leaders, said the party will decide on the ticket and the candidate before the election. “Many people are joining the party to lend their hand to build and strengthen the party. Party tickets will be decided at a later stage”, he added.
When a scribe made a mention of ex-AAP convenor Elvis Gomes, Pathak said the party had no issues with the outgoing party chief, who had quit the party in December last. He said the doors of the party are open for anyone, including those who had left the party and those intending to join the organization.
While addressing his supporters, Prashant said he had worked for the BJP and the Congress in the past, but had never joined any political party. “AAP is the first party I have decided to embrace after seeing their governance in Delhi. In Delhi, the common man receives free power supply, but this is exactly the opposite in Goa, wherein the common man is taxed without any benefits”, he said.
He added: “My supporters have been asking me on my future in AAP, but I have told them let us all work for the party and our efforts will bear fruit one day. There are many who say that AAP has no future, but the same was said about the BJP when Shripad Naik and a handful of persons brought BJP to Goa. People have accepted AAP in Goa and the day is not too far when the party will rule Goa”.
