the goan I network
MARGAO
Q. You were amongst the first candidates in the fray to kick-start your campaign late last year.
A. When we started late last year, people were not aware that the Lok Sabha elections were around. But, when we put up our banners, it made a lot of impact. Our campaign was well received by the people. The people were also looking for a unified mandate and we assured them we will do our best.
Q. People say Elvis Gomes is a good candidate, but will not be able to wrest the seat from the BJP. The Congress has labelled you as a “spoiler”. They say your presence will only split the secular vote and benefit the BJP.
A. The Congress has been harping on the same thing for a number of years now. Instead, the Congress should explain to Goans what they have done for the secular vote. What the Congress has done over the years is to take the secular vote and later export the MLAs to the BJP. This has been happening since 2000 and it continues till date. The Congress should stop fooling the people by blaming me and AAP as a spoiler.
Q. Questions are being raised in political circles whether AAP can win the ensuing elections without any party organization worth its name in many parts of the constituency. Polling few votes here and there will not help defeat the sitting BJP MP.
A. Every political party in the fray contests the elections to win. Our voters are working hard for victory. People of Goa are fed up with the state of affairs in the State. We are doing our best and we are confident that the people will stand by us in the election.
Q. What went wrong with the talks between AAP and Congress in Goa? You and Girish Chodankar had a couple of meetings to discuss on forging an alliance.
A Girish Chodankar may say anything, but he has no power to take any decision. He may be the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, but he cannot take decision. Unlike Girish, I am in full control of the Aam Aadmi party. Girish may be the driver of the bus, but he will stop wherever he is being told to by other quality drivers in the Congress.
Q. Girish has claimed the Congress was ready for seat sharing in the Assembly election, but you insisted on an alliance in the Lok Sabha poll.
A. This is a total lie. First and foremost, Girish had never come to us. These informal talks had taken place at our behest. But, nothing moved because Girish had no power to take any decision. The Congress candidates are decided in Delhi. Money bags decide their candidates.
Q. AAP seems to be taking on both the BJP and the Congress for the ills plaguing the State. What has been the response of the people on this count?
A. We are catering to a large section of Goans, who are living in Goa and abroad. We understand their sentiments and concern for Goa. We had to take on both the Congress and the BJP because these two parties are in league with each other. You show me one positive contribution of the present BJP government to public welfare in the last two years.
Q. But, AAP had targeted both the Congress and the BJP in the 2017 Assembly election and lost miserably, loosing deposits in most of the Assembly constituencies. Why do you feel that people will stand by you this time?
A. As a political party, AAP has an ideology and we work as per it. Nothing has changed since 2017 and we continue to hear the voice of the people. Our core ideology is good of the common man and their welfare. Goa is witnessing a political drama, which is not in the interest of the common man.
People with selfish interest will not vote for us. But, those who care for Goa will.
Q. AAP has lost no opportunity to showcase the achievements of the Arvind Kejriwal’s government in Delhi. You think Goans will vote for you based on your Delhi government report card.
A. We will keep showcasing our achievements till the people of Goa understand the good work done by our government in Delhi. We showcase our achievements in Delhi because AAP has delivered in the national capital by fulling 85 per cent of its poll manifesto.
Q. What will be your agenda and priorities if elected?
A Our agenda before the people of Goa is centered on the protection of environment and culture, besides identity and to ensure that our actions touch the lives of the people of Goa.
As far as our priorities are concerned, we will address burning issues such as coal, CRZ and make sufficient noise to ensure that the land of Goa is protected.
