MARGAO
The mysterious “16th vote” secured by the BJP in the election of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson triggered a political slugfest between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with both opposition parties blaming each other for supporting the BJP.
In the 25-member South Goa Zilla Panchayat, the BJP“MGP“Independents combine enjoys a clear majority of 15 members. However, BJP candidates Siddharth Gauns Desai (Chairperson) and Anjali Velip (Vice-Chairperson) won the elections with 16 votes”one more than their declared strength.
Congress South Goa district president Savio Coutinho was the first to accuse the Aam Aadmi Party of providing the extra vote to the BJP. This allegation sparked further reactions, with Goa Congress president Amit Patkar taking to social media to claim that the Zilla Panchayat election had “exposed AAP completely.” He alleged that by voting in favour of the BJP, AAP had proved it was aligned with the BJP nationally.
AAP leadership strongly rejected these accusations. Newly appointed AAP leader Shrikrishna Parab responded on social media, countering the Congress claims and instead accusing a Congress Zilla Panchayat member of cross-voting. “AAP has always stood, and will continue to stand, against the BJP in Goa. Even today, we voted against them. We do not need certificates from the Congress South Goa district president. The Guirdolim Congress ZP member, who was originally from the BJP, voted for the BJP today,” Parab claimed.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao strongly objected to Parab’s statement and denied any cross-voting by Congress members. “There has been no cross-voting from the Congress. The Congress“Goa Forward alliance has nine members in the 25-member South Goa ZP body. Our vote tally neither increased nor decreased. Therefore, there is no question of cross-voting. The election proceeded on expected lines,” he said.
Responding to allegations against Guirdolim ZP member Sanjay Velip, Alemao clarified that Velip had resigned from the BJP and contested the election on a Congress ticket. “The Constitution of India allows any individual to leave a party and join another of their choice. Sanjay Velip faced the people of Guirdolim and received their mandate, winning with the highest margin. His victory was a slap to the BJP, especially since the Chief Minister had campaigned in several Guirdolim wards where Sanjay secured a decisive lead. We oppose defections, but there is nothing wrong when someone resigns from a party, joins Congress, and seeks a fresh mandate from the people,” Alemao said.
