People from different walks of life told Herald that Goa needs an alternate party and hoped that AAP would contest the 2017 assembly elections and form the government in Goa.
Sheik Mustaffa, a fruit vendor, said they have seen enough of the Congress and BJP. “These parties only give assurances, but fail to implement. Before elections, poor people like us are promised a lot of things, but soon after the election, politicians not only forget the promises made, but at times even fail to acknowledge our existence,” said Mustaffa.
“It is better to give AAP a chance with the hope that at least they will do something good for the people of Goa and Vasco city,” added Mustaffa.
Vegetable vendor, Babasheb Mullah, said at the time of election, politicians from both national parties had promised better market facilities.
“But after elections, they not only forget to provide better market facilities, they even harass us if we encroach an inch. If AAP contests the next election in Goa, we will support them wholeheartedly with a hope that they will understand our problem. By voting for AAP, we will not lose anything, but on the contrary if AAP comes to power, we will be happy even if they fulfill 10% of poll promises in Vasco,” added Mullah.
Fish vendor, Martha D’Souza, said she has grown up in Vasco and she hasn’t seen any development in the port town since the last 40 years.
“Vasco has been the same ever since the Portuguese left. Though we have seen a change in elected representatives from different parties, they have failed to develop the port town,” said D’Souza.
“If AAP contests the next assembly election, we will definitely vote for a change, as we are sure that at least AAP will work for the betterment of Goa and its people,” she added.
When asked to comment on AAP’s stunning performance in Delhi and the expectations of Vasco people that AAP could contest in Goa, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida said: “the voters are supreme and parties have to learn from their mistakes and introspect.”
When asked if Goans would vote for AAP in a similar manner in the next assembly election, Almeida replied: “Goa is different compared to Delhi. The BJP government in Goa has fulfilled most of the poll promises and there is
still time to fulfill the remaining ones.”
