MARGAO
Even as the inordinate delay by the Congress to unveil its candidates for the Goa Lok Sabha seats has become the talking point in political circles, Aam Admi Party (AAP) volunteers, led by MLA Venzy Viegas, have hit the campaign trail with a plea to the people of the State to vote for the INDIA bloc candidate in the upcoming polls.
Congress leaders, however, in private wonder why the AAP MLA and volunteers do not make a mention that the Congress would be contesting both the Lok Sabha seats and would be the face of the opposition alliance in Goa in the ensuing election.
In fact, for the second time in less than a week, AAP volunteers led by the Benaulim MLA descended for the campaign in Margao, this time near the Margao KTC bus stand. Armed with INDIA Alliance banners, the volunteers and the MLA slammed the BJP for the various sins of omission and commission resulting in the present state of affairs in the country and the State.
They explained that the only alternative left for the people of Goa and the country to defeat the BJP is to vote for the INDIA bloc candidate. In his brief address, AAP MLA Venzy charged the ruling BP of threatening industrialists on the electoral bonds, saying that crores of rupees in black money had been taken by the ruling party. He further charged the BJP for its decisions which have paved the way for the diversion of river Mhadei to neighbouring Karnataka.
While making a fervent plea to the people to "wake up and vote" for the INDIA bloc candidate in the May 7 election, Venzy further appealed to the people, irrespective of caste and creed to "unite and save democracy".
While the AAP has kick-started the campaign under the INDIA bloc banner even though the Congress is yet to declare candidates for the two Goa seats, a senior Congress leader wondered why no mention of the Congress contesting the two Lok Sabha seats is made by the AAP MLA and volunteers during the campaign.
“We have no issue with the AAP starting the election campaign. But, it would have helped everyone if AAP had to explain and appeal to the people to vote for the Congress since the party will be the face of the INDIA bloc in Goa in the upcoming polls,” remarked the Congress observer.
