PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday said it has fielded candidates in 42 of Goa’s 50 Zilla Panchayat constituencies, even as it tore into the alliance forged by the Congress and Goa Forward Party (GFP), calling it a desperate pact for political self-survival.
AAP State Convenor Adv Amit Palekar, Working President Valmiki Naik, and General Secretary (Organisation) Shrikrishna Parab addressed the press in Panaji, presenting what they described as one of the most credible, youth‑driven lists of candidates in the Zilla Panchayat election slated for December 20.
Naik dismissed the Opposition alliance as “self‑preservation without principle.” He said AAP had predicted its collapse months ago.
“Congress was never going to confirm seat‑sharing till the eleventh hour. Their record of defections speaks for itself. This alliance is only to save face,” he charged.
He added that GFP chief Vijay Sardesai faces a tough contest against the BJP State president in the next assembly polls. “This fight will not be easy. Sardesai needs an alliance to survive. Everyone can see what this arrangement really is,” Naik said.
Palekar, meanwhile, underscored AAP’s seriousness in the ZP battle and said: “We have put up candidates for 42 seats. Eighty per cent are under 35, and six women are contesting even in unreserved constituencies. We chose them for credibility, not merely winnability,” he said. He urged voters to “ignore the political noise and support the 'Jaadu' -- leaders who are among you and for you.”
Parab went further, alleging Congress–BJP collusion in several constituencies. He cited Guirdolim, where Congress gave a ticket to BJP leader Sanjay Velip, prompting its own district vice president Gabriel Fernandes to back AAP. In Navelim, the Congress nominee is the daughter of BJP’s Michael Cardoz. In Curtorim, the party fielded the daughter of a long‑time aide of BJP‑backed MLA Reginaldo. In Mandrem, senior Congress leaders themselves accused AICC in-charges of colluding with BJP.
“These incidents prove Congress is working hand‑in‑hand with BJP. Only AAP is directly fighting BJP on the ground,” Parab said. “This is about clean politics and genuine change in the panchayat system,” Palekar added.
