Voting For Congress Candidates In Goa Is Pointless, Once Elected, They Will End Up In BJP: Arvind Kejriwal

Ahead of the Goa Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday stepped up his campaign in Goa, carrying out a door-to-door outreach in Anjuna in support of AAP candidate Pujan Malvankar, and later addressing a public meeting in Chimbel in support of party candidate Maria Cristalina Antao, while questioning the credibility of both the Congress and the BJP.

The AAP Chief said the people of Goa gain nothing by voting for a Congress candidate who is expected to eventually align with the BJP, a reality that has left citizens demanding basic facilities such as electricity, water, and community buildings while the government remains unresponsive.

Calling the Pramod Sawant government a "hafta vasooli" regime and linking it to the Arpora night club fire incident, Arvind Kejriwal said Goans are now searching for honest politics, with the rising support for the AAP signalling a clear appetite for change. During this time, AAP Goa In-charge Atishi, Goa President Amit Palekar, and other local leaders were also present.

Addressing a public meeting in Chimbel, Goa, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, "Wherever we are going, even now as I return after doing door to door campaigning in Anjuna, we are receiving immense love and affection. It truly feels like something significant is happening in Goa. There is a wave of change happening across Goa. Everywhere you go, there is this powerful atmosphere of change. Never before in Zilla Panchayat elections have such large gatherings taken place as are now happening for the Aam Aadmi Party."

Arvind Kejriwal continued, "In Delhi, there is a saying, if there is a wedding in someone's house and they do not invite you, would you go to attend it? No, you would not. Similarly, if there is an election and a party does not come to ask for your vote, would you vote for them? Asking for votes is essential. If someone does not even ask for your vote, why should you vote for them? It means they do not need your vote, it means they do not respect your vote, and ultimately it means they do not respect you. Any party or leader who does not come to seek votes should not be voted for."

The AAP National Convenor said, "I have come all the way from Delhi to ask for your votes. I have come specially from Delhi. On 20 December, the Zilla Panchayat elections are being held, and I am here to ask you for votes for the Aam Aadmi Party and for the 'jhaadu' symbol. Not a single big Congress leader has come from Delhi, not a single big BJP leader has come from Delhi. Only the National Convenor of the AAP, Arvind Kejriwal, has come to ask for your vote."

"The media asked me why I came for such a small election. But elections are never small or big. The voter is big. The value of a vote is big. As Atishi said, they value your vote at 80 paise. We value your vote as priceless, infinite, and extremely precious. Your vote holds immense value," he said.

Recalling his door to door campaign, Arvind Kejriwal added, "When I was doing door to door campaigning in Anjuna, I went to every house personally. Think about it, have you ever seen a national leader of any party, whether Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, or Amit Shah, going door to door to ask for votes? You have not, because they do not respect you or ordinary people. I went house to house in Anjuna, folded my hands, told people there was an election, assured them we would work for them, and asked for their votes. When I came out, many media persons met me and asked what I had to say about the Arpora fire incident."

Expressing grief over the incident, he further said, "It made me deeply sad. There was a time when the world asked about Goa's tourism and its beaches. Today, the world is asking about the Arpora fire incident. First of all, I pray to God that the souls of the 25 people who lost their lives in that fire rest in peace. But why did this fire incident happen? At that time, I was in Delhi and read in the newspapers that the Arpora nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building permission, no construction permission, no excise permission, and no trade licence. It had nothing at all. It was completely illegal, completely unlawful, yet it was operating openly."

Questioning government accountability, the AAP Chief added, "When I came to Goa, I asked people from my party and others how such an establishment could function openly without anyone noticing. Does Pramod Sawant not see this? People told me that 'hafta' (protection money) was being paid. They said bribes were paid to the police, to the trade department, to the Town and Country Planning Department, to the excise department, and even to the panchayat. Everyone was paid. Pramod Sawant's government is a government that collects 'hafta'. Is it or is it not?"

Highlighting systemic corruption, he said, "After the Arpora fire incident, media persons became very active and told me that they toured the entire Goa and found many such illegal establishments operating openly. I want to ask, if you are an honest person running your shop or business honestly, is it even possible to work in Goa without paying bribes? Without paying money, you cannot do honest work. If you want to register your house, you have to pay money. If you want building plan approval, you have to pay money. For electricity connection, water connection, for any legitimate work, you have to pay money. Meanwhile, illegal work continues smoothly because bribes are paid to officers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and ministers."

Explaining the root of corruption, he continued, "If a minister is honest, no Member of the Legislative Assembly has the courage to take bribes. If a minister is honest, no officer dares to take money. But if the minister is corrupt, officers also become corrupt. Officers take money because ministers take money. The Arpora fire incident happened because the entire Pramod Sawant government is corrupt. It is a government that runs on 'hafta-vasooli' and this corruption has to be eliminated."

Linking corruption to unemployment, Arvind Kejriwal said, "Today, children in Goa are roaming unemployed even after completing their education and earning degrees. Government jobs are announced, but can anyone get a government job without paying bribes or recommendations? You need calls from Members of the Legislative Assembly, calls from ministers, and money, only then do you get a government job. The entire system is corrupt. Punjab has an Aam Aadmi Party government. Punjab and Goa elections are held together, in February 2027, both will have elections together. In three years, we have given 55,000 government jobs in Punjab without taking a single rupee and without any recommendations. The Chief Minister personally went village to village and city to city to distribute appointment letters. On merit, children of the poor, labourers, farmers, rickshaw pullers, and peons are getting government jobs. This change can come to Goa as well, and the key lies in your hands."

"While travelling on the Mapusa-Porvorim Road, we saw that the entire road was broken. It is a main road of Goa. Atishi told me that the Chief Minister's office is located on the left side of that road, and even the road in front of the Chief Minister's office is full of potholes. The entire government has fallen into potholes. Someone even joked that the Chief Minister deliberately kept the road damaged so that no one could reach his office," he asserted.

Questioning leadership competence, the AAP Supremo said, "A Chief Minister who cannot fix the road outside their own office in three years should resign. A Chief Minister who cannot fill potholes outside their office does not deserve to be Chief Minister. If they cannot fix the road outside their office, how will they fix the road outside your house? Your turn will never come. Right now, even the Chief Minister's turn has not come. Across Goa, there are potholes everywhere, and fixing your road will not happen in the next five years either."

He continued, "At this moment, as I am speaking to you, in Punjab we are constructing 43,000 kilometres of roads. Forty three thousand kilometres of high quality roads, check on Google right now. You will be surprised to see the quality of the roads being constructed there. Why? Because if we can do it, others can do it too. The question is why are they not doing it? We are doing it because the Aam Aadmi Party is an honest party."

The AAP Supremo affirmed, "The Pramod Sawant government is a 'hafta vasooli' government. They do not want to work for you. They only want to loot Goa. What have they given you in five years but 'goonda raj'. I was shocked by what I heard. A streetlight outside someone's house was not working, so they complained. Local MLA goons came to their house and threatened them, saying if you complain too much, we will not spare your family, we will cancel your No Objection Certificates, we will do this and that. Open threats are being given. Ministers give threats. Their MLAs give threats."

Citing a specific incident, Arvind Kejriwal added, "Just the day before yesterday, one of our Aam Aadmi Party Zilla Parishad candidates was speaking to a woman on the road. That woman's husband works in a government job. The very next day, the local MLA called her and threatened that her husband would be removed from his government job if she spoke to an Aam Aadmi Party candidate. Is this what it has come to? Can we not even talk anymore? Is an emergency imposed? Is this dictatorship? Even if I belong to one party, can I not speak to someone from another party? Is this the kind of Goa we want, where people cannot even talk to each other?"

Warning voters, he asserted, "You will have to end this goonda raj. If you tolerate it today, tomorrow they will keep suppressing you again and again until you are left with nothing. You must raise your voice. When you go to vote, vote carefully. The Aam Aadmi Party is different. I say it is not just a party, it is a revolution. It is a different kind of revolution. The Aam Aadmi Party is honest. It is a party of decent people, not a party of goons."

Speaking about AAP's representation in Goa, Arvind Kejriwal said, "We have two Members of the Legislative Assembly in Goa, Venzy Veigas and Cruz Silva. You elected these two MLAs in 2022. I visited both constituencies. I asked people publicly, sitting there, whether Venzy ever asked anyone for money. Everyone loudly said no, never. I asked whether Venzy ever took commission from any contractor. People said never. I asked whether Venzy or his staff ever threatened anyone. People said no. Then I went to Velim and asked whether our MLA Cruz Silva or his staff ever asked for money. People said no. I asked whether he ever threatened anyone. They said no. There is an English saying, the proof of the pudding lies in its eating."

"In Goa, there is a saying that once someone becomes an MLA, they earn so much money in five years that the next seven generations do not need to work. They accumulate land, land grabbing happens, big houses are built, luxury cars come. Everything comes. But our two MLAs were poor earlier and they are still poor. What are our two MLAs doing? Inside their offices, they have set up clinics for people's treatment. These are not government clinics. The BJP government and the Pramod Sawant government should have built clinics but they did not," said Arvind Kejriwal.

"Our MLAs pooled their own money and public donations to build clinics. Free cataract operations are done there. Free treatment is provided. Free tests are conducted. Free medicines are given. Every day, different specialists come, sometimes a heart specialist, sometimes a gynaecologist. People are very happy," the AAP Supremo emphasised.

Arvind Kejriwal said, "I later found out that there is no clinic in Santa Cruz and no Primary Health Centre. People have to go far to Goa Medical College for treatment. Amit Palekar opened a clinic inside his own house for the people. Who does this? Do not feel bad, but a mistake did happen last time. You voted for someone who joined the BJP the very next day. If you had voted for Amit Palekar, by now he would have opened a clinic in every village panchayat. Not only in Santa Cruz, across Goa, in every Assembly constituency, the Aam Aadmi Party has opened clinics. Free medicines, free tests, everything is provided free."

Clarifying political intent, the AAP Chief asserted, "We did not enter politics for power. We did not enter politics to do politics. We did not enter politics to do goondagardi or to earn money. We entered politics to serve. Wherever we get a chance, we serve. People gave us a chance in Delhi and we served well. People gave us a chance in Punjab and we served. The BJP has been in power here for 13 years. I was told that in Chimbel and surrounding areas there are severe garbage problems and a huge water crisis. If they could not solve these issues in 13 years, assume they will not solve them in the next 13 years either. There is no benefit in voting for them again."

Pointing to arrogance in governance, he continued, "Look at the arrogance of the BJP. People are asking for playgrounds, community halls, and drinking water. What are they giving you? Unity Mall and 'Prashashan Stambh'. People say they do not want a Unity Mall since it will destroy the lake. Still, they insist on building it. People ask for playgrounds and community halls, and they refuse. Whatever you ask for, they will not give. They will only impose their will. They are arrogant because they know if you elect Congress candidates, they will join the BJP. What is the point of wasting your vote?"

Issuing an electoral warning, Arvind Kejriwal said, "Do not repeat this mistake in the Zilla Parishad elections. Do not vote for Congress, otherwise all Zilla Parishad candidates will also join the BJP. Vote carefully this time. If you want an honest government, a government that works, a trustworthy and decent government that provides schools, hospitals, electricity, and water, then press the 'jhaadu' button for the Aam Aadmi Party. If you want a corrupt, goonda government full of firing incidents, then press the BJP button."

People of Goa trusted the Congress candidate, but after winning, he joined the BJP: Atishi

Meanwhile, AAP Goa Prabhari and former Delhi CM Atishi stated, "On 20 December, Zilla Panchayat elections will be held. We cast our vote on just one day, but the impact of that single vote stays with our lives, our villages, and our panchayats for five years. If we vote at the right place, our lives improve for the next five years, development takes place in our panchayat, our lanes are built, and water reaches our homes. During elections, many people come to threaten us or lure us with inducements. If we fall for that temptation and vote at the wrong place, then no matter how much we regret it later, we cannot change our decision for five years."

She continued, "The people of Chimbel and Santa Cruz have repeatedly shown trust in the Congress. In the 2017 Assembly elections, people trusted Tony Fernandes, but as soon as he won, he betrayed the people's trust and joined the BJP. Similarly, in the 2022 Assembly elections, people trusted the Congress and elected Rudolf Fernandes, who also betrayed the people and left the Congress to join the BJP. If you place your trust in the wrong person, the loss will only be yours."

Highlighting BJP's rule in the state, Atishi said, "For the last 13 years, Goa has had a BJP government, and in these 13 years, the BJP has done nothing for Goa. The BJP has only given 'goonda-raj' to the villages. Today, people in Goa are afraid to speak about their problems because they feel that someone linked to the MLA will come and threaten them. The BJP has given unemployment to the youth. A few days ago, I went to Pernem, where a woman told me that her son has completed a Master's degree in Science, yet he could not get a job. She was forced to buy a taxi for him. He now drives a taxi at Mopa Airport, but even there he has to pay money every day. If he does not pay, he is not allowed entry into the airport."

Pointing to governance failures, she added, "The BJP has given only corruption to Goa. In Goa, you have to pay money for everything. If you want a trade licence, you have to pay money for a no-objection certificate from the panchayat. If you want electricity or a water connection, you have to pay money for that as well. The BJP has given only broken roads across Goa. You can go anywhere in Goa and you will find roads in a broken condition."

Speaking about healthcare in Chimbel, Atishi further said, "In the entire Chimbel area, the BJP government has not opened even a single Primary Health Centre. Because there was no health centre and people were suffering, Aam Aadmi Party's Goa President Amit Palekar set up the Aamche Arogya Polyclinic inside his own house. Here, MBBS doctors provide free treatment, free tests, and free medicines to people. This was the responsibility of the government, of the MLA, and of the district panchayat members, but none of them did it. In the end, despite not being in power, the Aam Aadmi Party and Amit Palekar did this work."

She concluded, "During Zilla Panchayat elections, all kinds of people will come to ask for your vote. For five years, they did no work, neither the MLA nor the zilla panchayat members worked, and in the end, they come with money to win elections. They ask for votes by offering cash. For five years, these MLAs put crores of rupees into their own pockets. That was your money, money with which schools should have been built, hospitals should have been built, playgrounds should have been made, and roads should have been constructed. They put those crores into their pockets and give ordinary people ₹1,500, saying take ₹1,500 for one vote. If they give ₹1,500 for five years, that comes to ₹300 per year, ₹25 per month, and just 80 paise per day. That means they value your vote at only 80 paise. We must vote for those who work for us. When you needed a doctor, Aam Aadmi Party's Amit Palekar opened a clinic with his own money and ensured your treatment. Even without being in power, the Aam Aadmi Party works for you. Now imagine how much work can be done in your area if you elect our Zilla Panchayat member."

Arvind Kejriwal visits Shri Laxmi Devalaya Temple in Benaulim, prays for Goa's well-being and strength for AAP workers

Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal visited Shri Laxmi Devalaya Temple in Benaulim and prayed for Goa's well-being and strength for AAP workers. Sharing a few snippets from his visit on X, he wrote: "Today, I had darshan at the Shri Laxmi Devalaya Temple in Benaulim, Goa. I prayed to God for the happiness, prosperity, well-being, and welfare of the people of Goa. May God grant us such strength that the morale of every single worker of the Aam Aadmi Party never wavers in serving the people of Goa."