MARGAO
Two years before Aam Aadmi Party could open an account in the Goa Legislative Assembly in the 2022 Assembly election, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had started its political journey in the State from Benaulim in the 2020 Zilla Panchayat poll when party-backed Hanzel Fernandes was elected to the South Goa Zilla Panchayat from Benaulim by defeating the Congress and NCP candidates. It’s another matter Hanzel’s election was declared null and void by the Administrative Tribunal in an appeal filed by Royla Fernandes after the High Court set aside his caste certificate stating he is a Christian carpenter.
Indeed, AAP Benaulim MLA Captain Venzy and the party are facing an acid test to retain hold over Benaulim. Sources say neither AAP nor Venzy can afford to lose the by-poll with just two years and half to go for the 2027 Assembly election.
This is the first election AAP and Venzy will be facing in Benaulim after the 2022 Assembly election. The June 23 by-poll is significant for Capt Venzy in particular since a host of local players, some of whom who might have set their eyes on the 2027 Assembly election, are supporting the Independent-backed candidates to prove a point or two to the AAP MLA in the game of one-upmanship.
Sources say that AAP has a volunteer base in Benaulim constituency as evident by the party’s vote share in the 2017 Assembly election, 2020 ZP poll and the 2022 Assembly poll. Apparently realising the importance the June 23 by-poll holds for him and the party, the AAP MLA had gone about inducting new members into the party-fold during the campaign for the recently held Lok Sabha polls.
