Viriato launches ZP campaign, promises to reclaim seat
South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes at a programme to hand over a tri-motorcycle to a beneficiary under the MPLAD scheme.
MARGAO
Even as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal visited Raia village in the Curtorim constituency on Saturday to interact with party volunteers and bolster the party’s base in South Goa ahead of the upcoming polls, Congress MP Captain Viriato Fernandes made his presence felt in neighbouring Benaulim — the constituency represented by AAP MLA Venzy Viegas.
While Kejriwal’s visit to Raia focused on internal party engagement, Captain Viriato was in Seraulim village to hand over a tri-wheeled motorcycle to a differently abled beneficiary under the MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) scheme. However, the former naval officer didn’t miss the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on AAP and its leader.
Taking direct aim at Kejriwal, Fernandes stated, “The time has now come for the Congress to expose the understanding between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party.” He was responding sharply to Kejriwal’s recent claim that a BJP-Congress alliance has ruled Goa for the past 13 years.
“We’ve remained silent about AAP for a long time, but not anymore,” the Captain said. “In Haryana, the Congress and AAP almost sealed an alliance. But after Kejriwal walked out of jail, he backed out. He’s the one who broke the deal. In Gujarat, everyone knows under whose instructions AAP entered the state. Those who live in glass houses should be careful when throwing stones,” he asserted.
He further criticised AAP’s decision to walk out of the national Opposition alliance, saying, “At a time when Opposition parties across India are trying to unite to unseat the BJP, AAP has distanced itself. The BJP regime is the most undemocratic in India’s history — an undeclared Emergency is in effect.” He also questioned why Kejriwal’s meeting with volunteers was closed to the media.
Meanwhile, in the presence of District Congress President Savio D’Silva, Benaulim Block Committee members, and the party’s shortlisted candidate for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) election at the Seraulim event, signalled that the Congress has effectively kicked off its campaign to reclaim the Benaulim ZP seat from AAP.
