MARGAO
Congress president Amit Patkar joined the Aam Aadmi Party rally in Benaulim on Wednesday to send a message loud and clear to the Congress voters that the party is behind the INDIA Alliance-backed AAP candidate Joseph Pimenta for the June 23 bye-poll for the Benaulim Zilla panchayat.
In fact, Patkar’s presence came as a big boost for AAP since many a leader of the INDIA Alliance did not make it to Benaulim for the rally, which was flagged off from Maria Hall, Benaulim before wending its way to Cavelossim. AAP state president Amit Palekar, MLA Venzy Viegas led the rally in support of party candidate Pimenta.
At one point, questions were raised whether the INDIA Alliance leaders, including Amit Patkar, opposition leader Yuri Alemao, Congress MLA Alton D’Costa, Congress MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai, NCP Chief Jose Philip D’Souza and TMC leaders will participate at the rally. For, not a single Alliance leader made it to Maria hall at the starting point of the rally at 9.30 am. It was only after the rally reached the neighbouring Varca village that Amit Patkar joined the AAP volunteers to drum up support for Joseph Pimenta.
Sources in the Congress said Opposition leader Yuri Alemao was preoccupied with some personal work, while the Goa Forward chief had to attend a meeting of the SGPDA on Wednesday morning.
Venzy, however, told The Goan that he expects the newly-elected MP Viriato Fernandes to come down to Benaulim to express support to AAP candidate Pimenta. “Goa Forward leader Vijai was busy on Wednesday and hence could not make it. May be others could not make it to for the rally because of personal reasons. Our INDIA Alliance is together and is fighting the ZP bye-poll unitedly. This ZP bye-poll will pave the way for the opposition to unitedly take on the BJP in the 2027 Assembly polls”, Venzy said.
Congress president Amit Patkar told the media that he has come to express the Congress party’s strong support to the INDIA Alliance candidate Joseph Pimenta. The Congress is for an united opposition in Goa. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao has been trying to get the opposition under one platform to fight the BJP under the INDIA Alliance banner”, he said.
Commenting on the Benaulim ZP seat, Patkar said AAP leaders requested the Congress in-charge and party leaders to leave the Benaulim ZP seat to the party since AAP and Congress fought the Lok Sabha election under one banner.
