GUILHERME ALMEIDA /
MARGAO
Who will checkmate Aam Admi Party’s growing presence in politically significant Salcete in the absence of an alliance of political parties vying for the slice of the secular space in the taluka?
This question has come to the fore again as Aam Admi Party’s virtual f
ree run in Salcete has received a booster dose from party leader Arvind Kejrival, during his visit on Sunday.
The visit, however, seemed to have left other political players vying for the secular space tread a cautious path in the minority dominated taluka with as many as eight Assembly seats at stake.
It’s an open secret that established political players, including the Congress, Goa Vikas Party, United Goans Democratic Party or the nascent Goa Forward Party are either yet to fire their guns or bidding for time to checkmate APP’s free run in the taluka, notwithstanding the fact that topi clad AAP volunteers have made their presence felt in all the eight Assembly constituencies around Salcete’s countryside,
What’s significant is that leaders of the regional UGDP or the new entrant, Goa Forward Party, have questioned the silence of Congress leaders in taking on AAP head-on with Arvind Kejriwal’s juggernaut descending right in the party’s backyard.
UGDP senior leader, Adv Radharao Gracias felt that being the main opposition party, the Congress ought to have played the lead role in stopping AAP’s free run in its stronghold Salcete. “For mysterious reasons, the Congress has so far not engaged the AAP when it’s clear that the Delhi-based party is making its presence felt in Salcete and outside. I do not know whether the Congress is scared of AAP or simply that the party is still on a dormant mode”, he said.
Goa Forward Party mentor, MLA Vijai Sardesai echoed similar sentiments. “In the absence of credible political activity by mainstream political parties after the session of Goa Legislative Assembly, where a united opposition exposed the government, AAP’s program along with high profile presence of the Delhi CM
