Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa announced its first list of 14 candidates for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections, stating that the selections were made based on grassroots work, public service and strong community engagement.
The list was released by AAP Goa President Adv. Amit Palekar and State Prabhari Atishi, who said the party is fully prepared to take on the BJP in the rural polls.
Atishi said AAP’s candidates have earned public trust through health camps and consistent presence among citizens, and will now take their service-driven politics to every household. Palekar said AAP has been a firm opposition to the BJP government on issues of corruption, healthcare and welfare of youth and women, and will seek votes on the strength of its work. Working President and National Spokesperson Valmiki Naik said the list reflects AAP’s commitment to clean and honest politics, noting that candidates were selected for their credibility rather than favouritism. Working President Gerson Gomes added that the candidates will build on the developmental work of AAP MLAs Capt. Venzy Viegas and Eng. Cruz Silva, including free clinics, infrastructure improvements and community initiatives.
The candidates announced are: Suvarna Harmalkar (Morjim), Prasad Shahapurkar (Dhargal), Umesh Kauthankar (Sirsai), Perpet Michael D’Mello (Maem), Pascal Fernandes (Corlim), Arjun Gurav (Nagaragao), Luis Oliveira (Raia), Isaca Fernandes (Velim), Joseph Pimenta (Benaulim), Antonio Leao Fernandes (Colva), Beatris D’Souza (Navelim), Urmila Umesh Kalekar (Sanvordem), James Fernandes (Xeldem) and Rajesh Gaonkar (Poinguinim). AAP said it will soon announce candidates for all 50 ZP seats and reaffirmed that the polls will be contested on issues of healthcare, youth empowerment, corruption-free governance and grassroots development.
