BJP & Congress functionaries in North Goa join Aam Aadmi Party

Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Aam Aadmi Party got a boost in Pernem, Saligao & Porvorim constituencies when a number of BJP and Congress workers joined the party in the presence of State Convenor Rahul Mhambre and State Vice-President Adv. Surel Tilve.
Sandeep Pednekar, senior BJP functionary from Saligao constituency, joined Aam Aadmi Party today with his supporters, after working for BJP for more than two decades.
Pednekar has been a State Executive Committee member of BJP, and was the Youth President of Calangute Mandal in 2004.
Pednekar is a well-known social worker and businessman, and is currently the vice-treasurer of Gadevansh Rampurush Temple in Pernem.
Pednekar’s wife, Mrs. Pragati is the Bardez Taluka Vice-President of Gomantak Bhandari Samaj, and had recently contested as Independent in Reis Magos ZP constituency. Pednekar said that he joined AAP as the BJP, after tasting power for almost a decade, had now stopped caring for the common man on whose votes it came to power. Pednekar stated that there is intense anger towards the BJP on the ground, and added that he joined AAP as the party was being talked about among people as a new hope for Goa and for the common man.
Rasesh Bondre, youth leader of Congress from Pernem constituency, joined Aam Aadmi Party today after being inspired by Arvind Kejriwal’s work in Delhi. Bondre was all-Goa Young Brigade Convenor of Congress Seva Dal, and was earlier part of its the North Goa Block Committee. Bondre is the son of Mrs. Priti Bondre, Congress Block President of Pernem and former Chairperson of Pernem Municipality, and Late Vithal Bondre, a former Congress PCC member. Rasesh was accompanied by his supporters including Pramod Shetgaonkar, Idhris Khan, Shubhangi Arolkar, Zamir Khan and Raju Tarcar.
Vignesh Apte, a social worker from Porvorim, joined Aam Aadmi Party today after working at the grassroots for BJP for many years. Apte, who runs a HR services business, said that he was impressed by the considerable relief work done by AAP during the pandemic, including ration distribution, doctor helpline, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders etc. Apte stated that despite being just a political party, AAP did more for the common man than even the elected MLAs or the BJP Govt did during covid.
Apte added that he will work for the party so that it gets a chance to govern the state, as he was convinced that an AAP Govt would be able to do much more for the people and the state in just five years, than BJP or Congress have done in the past 60 years.