Panaji: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, during his visit to Goa, declared that AAP will form the government in 2027, accusing both BJP and Congress of jointly misruling the state for the past 13 years.
Kejriwal alleged that BJP, with the support of Congress, has given Goa “nothing but goondaraj, unemployment, broken roads, and rampant illegal activities.” Referring to the recent attack on social activist Rama Kankonkar, he said people who raise their voices against the government are being suppressed. He also pointed to rising crimes against women, unemployment, and illegal mining as proof of BJP-Congress failure. “Goans today have hope only from the Aam Aadmi Party. In 2027, AAP will form its government in Goa,” Kejriwal asserted.
His remarks sparked strong reactions from the Congress leadership in Goa, who accused Kejriwal of playing into BJP’s hands.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar said Kejriwal’s visit to Goa was nothing but “opportunistic politics” aimed at dividing Opposition votes. “Instead of fighting BJP, he targets Congress, thereby protecting BJP. Goans remember that in the last Assembly polls, AAP only played a vote-cutting role and indirectly strengthened BJP,” Patkar said. He added that Congress has consistently stood with Goans against unemployment, corruption, and the erosion of Goa’s identity, while AAP remained “silent and absent” during crises. “Congress is the real Opposition and the true voice of Goans,” he stressed.
Former GPCC President Girish Chodankar also hit out at Kejriwal, saying his “Goa strategy seems aimed at weakening Congress, paving the way for BJP gains.” He warned that AAP lacks the strength to defeat BJP and risks being seen as its “stealth ally.”
Congress in-charge for Goa, Manikrao Thakare, echoed this view, stating that Kejriwal’s strategy in Goa was “a classic example of playing into the hands of the BJP.” By targeting Congress instead of BJP, Thakare said, AAP was “directly helping the ruling party.”
AICC Co Incharge fo Goa and Karnataka Congress MLA Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar went a step further, sharing a photo on social media alleging Kejriwal’s past association with BJP leaders. She accused him of misleading Goans with “political stunts” and said people would not be fooled by “a script written in Delhi.”
With leaders across the party attacking Kejriwal, Congress reiterated its position as the main Opposition in Goa, branding AAP as BJP’s “B-Team” and asserting that only Congress has the vision and commitment to take on the ruling dispensation.
