Minorities from Valpoi constituency want development in the constituency. And growth, they say, does not happen when one is not in power,  people from the Muslim community, said whilst speaking to Herald. 

“We have seen that there was no development in the past five years, and electing a Congress candidate was no use. We want a person who can actually work for our development”, said Numan Shaikh, a local resident.

He said that the Congress has betrayed the minorities by not forming government despite having a majority.

“We were working for the party for past so many years as we were feeling it is our party. But it was wrong, the party has forgotten the minorities in their selfish motives which was reflected in March”, said Sayyad Sarfaraz, Minority leader and Vice Chairperson of Valpoi Municipal Council.

He said that “minorities are being misguided on communal factor but this won’t happen in Valpoi and Goa. We are expecting communalism will be out of Goa. Goan leaders are educated and they know what communal politics is; it spoils communal harmony,” Sayyad added.

“We have full faith in our leader whom we have chosen and believe in his visions for development. Communalism won’t have any scope in Valpoi”, said Parvin Shaikh, Chairperson of VMC.

She said that community only cares about the overall development of the village and favours a leader who takes all communities into confidence.

Valpoi has approximately 3500 Muslim voters who were been with Congress for last many years.