PANJIM: Around 20 Congress members on Saturday joined the Aam Aadmi Party under leadership of Adv Pratima Coutinho, who recently joined the party after resigning as Goa Mahila Congress president.
Welcoming the newly joined members, Goa AAP Convenor Rahul Mhambre said, “AAP’s message is loud and clear, whosoever is ready to work for the interest of Goans, we will give them platform.”
Mhambre said, “Youth in particular are getting attracted to the party because of its motto of ‘Goa for Goans’, wherein all decisions concerning the Goa and Goans will be taken by the party leaders in Goa itself instead of waiting for the high command in Delhi.”
“We are providing a platform for the youth to raise their issues and find solutions to them and that is the reason why more and more youth are joining AAP today,” he said.
Mhambre said, “AAP has not fielded any panel for the municipal elections but wherever some of their volunteers are contesting, the party is supporting them in whichever way possible.”
He disclosed that Adv Pratima had canvassed for the two candidates contesting in Quepem.”
Among those who joined the AAP are Roshni D’Silva, who was the social media head and secretary of Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress; Elaine Fernandes, Venzy Fernandes, Jyoti Gawas, Asifa Sheikh and Andrea Dias, were executive committee members of the Mahila Congress.
Roshini said, “It was a moment of joy for her to join AAP on the eve of Easter and recalled how she has been working with Pratima for four years.”
Besides, a large number of Youth Congress members joined AAP and many of them are Muslims, who are usually considered to be die-hard supporters of the Congress.
Kanta Gawde, who was an executive committee member of Congress Scheduled Tribes Committee, was amongst those who joined AAP. “I have worked for the Congress for the last 20 years but my work was never recognised or valued by that party and instead of being ignored all the time I have chosen to join AAP now and will work for the party from Pernem to Canacona,” he said.
Adv Pratima said, “This is just the beginning and many more will be leaving the Congress to join AAP as many in Congress feel that it is now turning into a “sinking ship”.”
She pointed out that the once vibrant and active Youth Congress is today restricted to having one programme in three months and most of its members are above the age of 35.
