Ponda: A strong political message marked the nomination filing of Aam Aadmi Party candidate Geetesh Naik, as party leaders criticised recent shifts among rivals in Ponda.
Targeting Congress candidate Ketan Bhatikar for moving from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) to the Indian National Congress (INC), AAP alleged opportunistic politics driven by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s inability to accommodate allies.
The party also accused both Congress and BJP of engaging in “politics of conversion”, while asserting that AAP remains committed to its principles and questioning the lack of development in Ponda despite years of political opportunity.
On Monday, Geetesh, along with party MLAs Cruz Silva and Venzy Viegas, state president Valmiki Naik, senior vice president Sandesh Teleikar-Dessai and party workers, marched to the returning officer’s office in Ponda and filed his nomination for the Ponda by-election scheduled on April 9.
Geetesh said that he has received an overwhelmingly positive response as the people of Ponda are eager for change and are responding strongly to AAP’s people-centric approach.
“It is time for Ponda to elect a new genuine face,” he said. He assured that what has not been done in four years will be delivered within eight months once elected.
Valmiki urged voters to give the party a chance to represent the Ponda constituency. He said that if AAP fails to deliver, the people have the right to choose otherwise in the next election.
Silva said that constituencies like Benaulim and Velim have seen development, and the same model of governance can be brought to Ponda with public support.
AAP Ponda in-charge Sandesh Teleikar said that he is confident that the party will win the Ponda by-election. While interacting with the media about Adv Surel Tilve’s candidature, he said that Tilve is the party’s face for the forthcoming 2027 Assembly election from Marcaim constituency.
