Former AAP leader Paul Lobo, along with supporters from Benaulim, joined the Congress party on Friday. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The Congress party received a major boost ahead of the upcoming Zilla Panchayat polls, as former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Paul Lobo, as well as Adv Byron Rodrigues and Saturnino Rodrigues, along with their supporters, joined the party on Friday.
The Congress used the platform to convey a message loud and clear to non-BJP voters that opposition unity is the only viable path to dislodge the BJP from power.
South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes launched a scathing attack on AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing the former Delhi Chief Minister of deliberately splitting opposition votes to benefit the BJP and to shield himself from the “rock-solid” criminal cases pending against him in Delhi.
Paul and Saturnino, along with Cavelossim Panchayat member Rinku Lobo and others, were welcomed into the Congress fold by South Goa district party chief Savio D’Silva, the party's senior vice-president M K Sheikh, and others.
In his address, Paul Lobo said this is the "last chance" for the political parties and the people to unite to save Goa. Asserting that the people of Goa are wise and capable of making the right decisions at the right time, Paul expressed confidence that the Congress would form the next government in Goa.
“There is no other party in Goa, besides Congress, which is secular and which brings all people together. I have seen AAP’s inclination towards the BJP. We cannot fool the people all the time. I decided to come out to support the Congress,” he said.
Reiterating that the Benaulim constituency, under AAP MLA Venzy Viegas, has not seen any major development, Lobo said, “Benaulim is a tourist belt, but stakeholders are not happy with the tourist inflow. I have a small guest house; there is no full occupancy. This has affected the shacks, restaurants, and taxi tourist operators.”
Adv Byron said there is a trend in Goa whereby new political outfits contest elections to create confusion amongst Goan voters and split votes.
“People should not split but should rally behind a tried and tested party like the Congress. We have to give the Congress a chance, as it stands for values and inclusiveness.”
Viriato takes BJP and AAP head-on
In his fiery address, MP Viriato Fernandes blamed the BJP for "destroying the country" by dividing people on the basis of religion, caste, language, and region.
“This is the first time in our history that a government in power is deliberately dividing Indians,” he said, recalling his observations from parliamentary debates.
Welcoming new members into the party, Fernandes said, “There are shadow or sleeper parties working for the BJP. We saw this with the India Against Corruption movement, and people have now realised their true intentions.”
Accusing AAP of repeatedly sabotaging opposition unity in various states, he said, “In Haryana, the Congress and AAP nearly finalised an alliance before Arvind Kejriwal, after being released from jail, refused the pact, giving the BJP an edge. The same thing happened in Gujarat and Delhi,” he said.
He added, “Kejriwal now wants to repeat this in Goa. When all opposition parties, NGOs, and civil society are coming together to defeat the BJP, the AAP insists on contesting alone ” effectively helping the BJP,” he added.
Referring to the Bihar elections, Fernandes said, “Even after the opposition exposed vote tampering in Bihar, Kejriwal is planning to field candidates in all the 243 constituencies. It seems he was released on bail with the mission to destroy opposition unity.”
Asserting that the corruption cases against Kejriwal are “rock-solid” and inescapable, he said, “Kejriwal comes to Goa and attacks the Congress while the BJP rules the State ” that itself shows his intention to divide non-BJP votes.”
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Ex-Betalbatim panch swaps Congress for AAP
MARGAO: Even as the Congress welcomed ex-AAP leaders from Benaulim into the party fold, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday welcomed Congress leader and former Betalbatim Panch Feliciana Falcao, along with 20 supporters, into the party in the presence of Benaulim MLA Capt Venzy Viegas, AAP leader from Nuvem Brian Rodrigues, and Benaulim ZP Member Joseph Pimenta.
Former Betalbatim Panch member Feliciana Falcao joins AAP along with supporters.
After joining AAP, Feliciana said, “We all have to unite and fight the BJP because today, only AAP is standing against them on every issue ” whether fighting against gundaraj, hill cutting, and bad roads or fighting for Mhadei.
"In 2022, we voted for Congress, but our MLA betrayed us and joined the BJP. This time, we will not repeat that mistake. A vote to Congress is a vote to BJP ” and the people of Goa know that now.”
Welcoming Feliciana into the party fold, AAP MLA Capt Venzy Viegas said, “Congress has betrayed Goa twice ” first in 2017 and again in 2022. Their MLAs helped the BJP form the government and have destroyed Goa’s social fabric. That is why today our land, rivers, and hills are under threat, and Gundaraj has taken over.
"This ZP election, Goans must defeat the unholy alliance of BJP and Congress and bring in AAP ” the only party that stands for honesty and the people.”
