Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has surprised many with his unusual hands-on involvement and personal micro-management of the campaign for the April 9 Ponda bye-election, a contest for just one assembly seat in Goa.
Kejriwal arrived in Goa on Monday night for a three-day visit. He immediately held meetings with local leaders, reviewed campaign strategies, and took stock of ground-level work in Ponda.
On Tuesday, he visited the Tapobhoomi seat of Swami Brahmeshanand in Kundaim, accompanied by AAP candidate Geetesh Naik, party’s Goa in-charge Atishi, and other leaders. He also stopped at St Anne’s Church in Ponda town.
Party insiders admit they were taken aback by the former Delhi Chief Minister’s direct role in a local by-poll.
“It shows the seriousness with which the party is approaching Ponda,” said one party leader, who added that it has injected fresh energy into the party’s effort.
The move is seen as an attempt to consolidate AAP’s presence in Goa, where the party, although managing an entry into the State legislature with two of its MLAs elected in 2022, has struggled to gain a decisive, political foothold.
The triangular contest in Ponda pits AAP’s Geetesh Naik against BJP’s Ritesh Naik, son of the late minister Ravi Naik, and Congress candidate Dr Ketan Bhatikar.
Kejriwal will address a rally in Ponda on Wednesday, a high-profile intervention that underscores the stakes his party sees in this single seat. Results will be declared on May 4.
