There’s a method to the party’s way of approach and it seems to appeal to a section of the electorate.
AGNELO PEREIRA
MAPUSA
Contrary to common perception, Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party is digging in its heels in Bardez, creating a buzz in pockets while expecting a surge in the days to come.
AAP volunteers have been going about connecting with the people, holding corner meetings and organizing Goa dialogue in all seven constituencies of the taluka.
A dedicated band of volunteers move in groups of two or three, even as some diehard fans are not afraid to plough a lonely furrow to spread the AAP “idea”.
“People in Goa have a lot of expectations from AAP. Goa’s aam aadmi has good chance to overturn the traditional party’s applecart in the 2017 assembly polls,” said Sarita Naik of Calangute.
According to her, the Delhi party was yet to make a splash in the popular coastal village, but devoted AAP volunteers have been moving around in Calangute to build up its base.
“A lot will also depend on the choice of candidates,” she added, expecting the party to take a headstart over others.
As was expected, the party has been making steady progress in Aldona and Saligao, with the former well ahead in the race. But Siolim is turning out to be a surprise package for AAP in Bardez.
APP’s popularity is rising in the WRD minister’s backyard with people connect programme getting more than a lukewarm response in Siolim.
Sources disclosed that a serious ticket aspirant from an established party recently expressed his wish to join AAP, proving the point further.
“AAP is the only party left for Goa. Congress never gave us clean candidates and BJP has failed to live up to people’s expectations,” said Fatima Fernandes, a resident from Siolim clearly endorsing her support to Kejriwal’s party.
Like her, there are many who are backing the AAP but fear to come in the open for obvious reasons.
In Porvorim and Tivim, AAP volunteers have been contacting people and holding corner meetings, although the momentum was a tad slow.
In Tivim, besides the traditional Congress supporters, some BJP followers are also getting hooked to AAP.
“AAP is hardly seen in Tivim. A handful of people are moving around and they won't cut much ice in the constituency,” said Robert Colaco, a Congress supporter and a sharp political observer in Tivim.
In Mapusa, the party’s campaign started on a slower note but has been picking up off late.
“The Mapusa MLA never had a worthy opposition and therefore had it easy all these years. This time, we will give a formidable choice to the people of Mapusa,” said a young Yogesh Kelkar, an engineer by profession leading the AAP campaign in Mapusa.
As expected, Congress supporters are shifting towards AAP but the party is also fast snapping at the heels of the BJP.
Senior leaders in the two national parties are wary of the Delhi party, although they refuse to admit it.
“AAP has nuisance value. They don’t have the capacity to win seats, but they can defeat candidates in constituencies where tight contests are expected,” said Agnelo Fernandes, former Calangute MLA and senior General Secretary of Congress.
He admitted that they could damage prospects of Congress in a few seats in Bardez.
“They are moving house to house, but only to those that belong to the Catholic community. This can affect prospects of Congress candidates in certain areas,” Fernandes said.
BJP has a huge stake in Bardez, with six of the seven constituencies represented by the party’s MLAs. But BJP is in the denial mode dispelling any AAP challenge in the taluka.
“AAP will have no effect on our party in Bardez. Ours is an organizational based party and our karyakatas are strongly behind us,” said Sadanand Tanavde, BJP General Secretary.
“They can’t repeat Delhi in Goa. Delhi is a cosmopolitan city. Goa is different,” Tanavde opined.
AAP campaign is expected to pick up momentum as elections near. Once that happens, the party is expected to give established politicians in Bardez taluka a run for their money.
