Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: The Aam Admi Party on Monday said acclimatising its volunteers in Goawith the poll symbol of joint nominees of the INDIA bloc is a difficult task in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. Notably, the Congress will field its candidates as representatives of the opposition bloc in South Goa and North Goa constituencies who will contest on the party’s ‘hand’ symbol.
Goa Aam Aadmi Party unit chief Amit Palekar said that the candidate selection is “little delayed” as the constituents of the opposition alliance have given various suggestions to Congress on prospective contestants.
During the campaigning, the AAP has been telling its volunteers that they will have to elect the INDI alliance candidates even though they do not belong to AAP, Palekar said.
“It is a bit challenging to acclimatise AAP volunteers with the election symbol that doesn’t belong to AAP for which they have to vote. This is a bit challenging as far as the alliance is concerned,” he said.
Palekar said the AAP has been trying to secure support for the INDIA bloc candidates from the assembly segments that fall under the South Goa and North Goa LS constituencies.
“We have held discussions with AAP volunteers in various assembly constituencies on ensuring vote lead for INDIA bloc candidates,” he said, adding that cadres of INDIA bloc constituents are working towards this goal.
Queried on the prospective candidates, he said various suggestions have been given to Congress by the INDIA bloc parties.
The Opposition alliance in Goa consists of the Goa Forward Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Shardchandra Pawar), Congress, and AAP.
Palekar said the AAP has forwarded its suggestions to Congress’ Goa desk in charge Manikrao Thakre.
“The other alliance partners have also spoken to each other about the candidature and I think a little bit of delay (in announcing the candidate) is because of the suggestions that we have given and those are being positively considered,” he said.
The ruling BJP has renominated Union minister Shripad Naik from North Goa. In 2019, Congress’ Francisco Sardinha won the South Goa seat.
