Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday alleged that the ruling BJP and the Congress have a “hidden understanding” in the Zilla Panchayat elections, citing the Calangute ZP constituency as a clear example.
Addressing a press conference at the party office, AAP Organisation Secretary Shrikrishna Parab said the Congress had exposed its alleged alliance with the BJP by giving a ticket to a candidate with strong BJP links. AAP’s Calangute ZP candidate Carol Fernandes was also present.
Parab alleged that Carmelina Fernandes, who was earlier expelled from the BJP, has now been given a Congress ticket. “The same Carmelina Fernandes had actively campaigned for BJP Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira. By giving her a ticket, Congress has ensured that there are effectively two BJP candidates in Calangute,” Parab claimed.
He said that even if voters believe they are voting for Congress, their votes would ultimately benefit the BJP. “Only AAP is the real opposition to BJP in Goa. Voters should support AAP’s broom symbol to defeat the BJP,” Parab said.
AAP’s Calangute candidate Carol Fernandes echoed similar views, stating that AAP is the only party seriously challenging the BJP in Calangute. “If people vote for the Congress candidate believing she represents Congress, that vote will go to BJP, as she has worked extensively for the BJP since 2022 and actively campaigned for BJP Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira,” Fernandes said.
Appealing to voters, Fernandes urged the people of Calangute Panchayat to vote for change and support AAP in the Zilla Panchayat elections.
AAP further alleged that the Congress has betrayed anti-BJP voters and its own party workers by fielding a BJP-linked candidate in Calangute, and reiterated that AAP is the only party committed to defeating the BJP in Goa.
