PANJIM: As Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) eyes to make an impact in the Goa Assembly polls, their Panjim candidate Valmiki Naik is banking on his party’s governance model in Delhi alongside his own ground work during COVID-19 pandemic to bring a political change in the constituency, which is been dominated by BJP since 1994.
Naik, who was defeated in the last two elections from Panjim, is confident that this time people will vote for change. Naik had contested 2017 Assembly election and then 2019 by-election, which was held after demise of the then incumbent MLA Manohar Parrikar.
This time, he is fighting against BJP’s Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, Congress’ Elvis Gomes and Parrikar’s son Utpal Parrikar, who is contesting as independent candidate.
With focus on making Panjim number one in the country in ‘Ease of Living’, Naik has laid emphasis on employment generation and resolving age old problems of parking, traffic, water and electricity among others.
“Compared to 2017, where AAP was not able to win even a single seat, today we are getting overwhelming response. People have now become familiar with AAP and me. Our governance model in Delhi is also established and people want that type of corruption free and pro-people governance,” Naik said.
