PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party Goa in-charge Atishi on Tuesday stated that with more than 90 per cent of Congress MLAs defecting to BJP within the last five years in the state; Congress has made a "world record" of political defections.
“Goans know this and will not vote for them in the 2022 Assembly election. People of Goa know that a vote for Congress, is a vote for BJP,” she said.
Further asserting that the phenomenon of defection goes beyond Goa, Atishi said, “Defections are in the DNA of the Congress. This phenomenon of party legislators deserting is observed in multiple states. Goans are now aware that voting for Congress means supporting the BJP. Therefore, this time they will not back Congress.”
She added, “There is a strong anti-incumbency against BJP. Thus, BJP has planned out a new strategy this election. Once the former BJP candidates win the seats on Congress tickets, they are going to rejoin the BJP. This is the BJP's master plan to form the government this time.”
While listing out the candidates she said, "Navelim Congress candidate Avertano Furtado who joined the BJP in 2012 joined the Congress today. He served as a minister for several years, yet he switched parties. He and BJP have made a deal. Once he gets elected, BJP will offer him Sports minister position. The same is true for Congress Curtorim candidate Morenno Rebello who has been spending a lot of money on campaigns these days. From where has this money come? The BJP is funding his campaigns.”
She said, "Congress Cuncolim candidate Yuri Alemao and TMC’s Benaulim candidate Churchill Alemao are known for switching parties. Churchill supported the BJP to form the government in 2017. Both these leaders are also expected to switch to the BJP once elected.”
"Congress Vasco candidate Carlos Almeida, who resigned from the BJP in December 2021, got the Congress ticket in January 2022. Former BJP MLA Michael Lobo was the two-term minister yet he chose to jump ship. He and his wife Delilah are now running on the Congress ticket. It is known that Babush Monseratte has been funding Rudolph Fernandes' campaign. All of these will join the BJP to help form the government," she added.
AAP Panaji candidate Valmiki Naik said, "BJP knows they have no chance to win this time. As a result, they are setting up Congress candidates to defect to BJP after elections. The Congress is no longer credible, so the same defections will be witnessed in this election as well."
