MARGAO: In the wake of the INDIA Bloc candidate’s victory in the Benaulim Zilla Panchayat by-election, Congress and AAP leaders in Goa are confident that this alliance will pose a significant challenge to the BJP’s dominance in South Goa. The leaders from both parties see the INDIA Bloc as a powerful force that could attract voters who are disillusioned with the BJP, leveraging issues affecting the electorate to gain support.
Conversely, BJP leaders remain confident in their party’s established support base and organisational strength. They believe these factors, along with their past electoral successes in South Goa and across the State, will help them maintain their advantage despite the emergence of the INDIA Bloc.
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Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said that Congress, as the principal Opposition party at the national level, is committed to associating with those who uphold the principles of the Indian Constitution. He emphasised that the INDIA Bloc will be a formidable threat to the BJP in South Goa.
Benaulim AAP MLA Venzy Viegas highlighted the alliance’s potential impact in North Goa, stressing the need to mobilise voters dissatisfied with the current BJP government. “We are committed to making the people of North Goa aware that they rightfully deserve better than what the BJP government has failed to deliver. The INDIA Bloc has already demonstrated its potential following the Lok Sabha election and will pose a threat to the BJP in the days ahead,” he said.
On the other hand, former Fatorda MLA and BJP general secretary Damodar Naik downplayed the challenge posed by the INDIA Bloc. He pointed out that there is a significant difference between Zilla Panchayat elections and Assembly or Lok Sabha elections, suggesting that local-level elections tend to be more individual-centric. Naik expressed confidence that the BJP’s strong support base and strategic measures will ensure their continued electoral success despite the new alliance.
