Kejriwal’s Salcete blitz sets stage for high-stakes duel

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on the campaign trail in Goa during his three-day visit.

MARGAO
He came, he campaigned, and he returned to Delhi—but not before setting the stage for a political battle royale with the Congress party in the minority stronghold of Salcete.
For three days, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal crisscrossed Salcete and neighbouring areas to drum up support for party candidates contesting the December 20 Zilla Panchayat (ZP) polls. While political observers continue to assess the “Kejriwal effect” on the upcoming elections, the AAP appears to have emerged as a force to reckon with in four of the nine Zilla Panchayats in Salcete, in Velim, Benaulim, Colva and Nuvem—posing a direct challenge to the Congress leadership in minority-dominated regions where the BJP has little or no presence.
While the Velim, Benaulim and Colva ZP seats fall under the Benaulim and Velim Assembly constituencies—represented by AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, respectively—the party has also made notable inroads in Nuvem. Former MLA Wilfred D’Sa’s endorsement of AAP candidate Luis Barretto has significantly strengthened the party’s prospects there.
In fact, the Aam Aadmi Party, which opened its ZP account in Benaulim during the 2020 elections, now appears poised for a final assault—not only to retain Benaulim, but also to dislodge the Congress in Velim, Colva and Nuvem.
In the 2020 ZP polls, Congress had won the Velim and Nuvem seats, while Colva had gone to the Nationalist Congress Party. Political observers pointed out that AAP is working on a strategy to win as many seats as possible in the ensuing Zilla Panchayat polls, not just to prove its strength on the ground, but to chart out the political course for the 2027 Assembly election due in early 2027.
Consolidating home turf
AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas (Benaulim) and Cruz Silva (Velim) appear to be working in tandem as part of a well-crafted strategy. While Venzy has taken full charge of both the Benaulim and Colva ZP seats under his Assembly segment, Cruz has been tasked with ending Congress’ hold over the Velim ZP seat.
AAP insiders privately admit that although the party has fielded several candidates across Salcete and beyond, its primary focus is on winning the three crucial seats of Velim, Benaulim and Colva. According to party leaders, AAP cannot afford to lose any of these seats, as a defeat would send the wrong message about the party’s political future in Goa.
This explains why the party is leaving no stone unturned to reach out to voters in these constituencies. Kejriwal’s public meeting at Betalbatim during his three-day visit to Goa is seen as a clear indication that AAP is attempting to build momentum not only in the Benaulim and Colva ZP constituencies, but also in the neighbouring Nuvem seat.
Nuvem gambit
In the run-up to the last date for filing nominations, the AAP camp witnessed intense activity over the selection of a candidate for the Nuvem seat. The party had shortlisted multiple candidates and was weighing various options before finalising its choice.
The situation took an unexpected turn when plans by senior Congress legislative leaders to field Luis Barretto in Nuvem were reportedly scuttled by the party organisation, reportedly on the grounds that Barretto enjoyed the backing of former MLA Wilfred D’Sa.
Sensing an opportunity, the Aam Aadmi Party moved swiftly to nominate Barretto as its candidate for Nuvem, with the open support of the former MLA. Sources say AAP became a serious contender in what has traditionally been a Congress bastion the moment Barretto was fielded on the party’s ticket.
Wilfred D’Sa’s door-to-door campaign in support of Barretto has further strengthened AAP’s push to take on the Congress head-on in Nuvem.