MARGAO: Delhi's Aam Admi Party (AAP) MLA and Goa in-charge Atishi Marlena on Monday stated that the AAP will build a movement for greater people participation and empowerment of local bodies.
She also said that the AAP will expand its political roots in Goa in the next couple of years. Speaking to reporters at Margao on Monday, Atishi said that any government services can be effectively implemented if there are monitoring and accountability at the local level and that is a reason why zilla panchayats (ZPs) and village panchayats need to be empowered. "Goa is an important State for AAP whereby we will expand our political roots in a couple of years. ZP election is an important part in this regards. AAP is going down the roots. ZP elections in Goa are important as ZP has given any powers so far and that is one of issue AAP is taking up", Atishi stated.
She also said that AAP has done different kinds of reforms in Delhi for the last five years. "One of the important components of all these reforms was grassroot and citizenship participation. Any government services can be effectively implemented if there are monitoring and accountability at the local level and that is the reason why ZP panchayat ani village panchayat needs to be empowered", said Atishi.
She further claimed that Goa is one of the states where absolute no devolution of powers to local bodies and this is why there is poor delivery of services to the people. She also mentioned about the pending project of South Goa District hospital at Margao. "This ZP election is a preparation of AAP for the next assembly election in Goa, where AAP will take up all basic issues required for citizens", she added.
Reacting to the Delhi riots, the Delhi MLA said, "The grave matter was that the Central government and Ministry of Home Affairs took much time to respond to the riots. There was a serious delay. There ware lots of attempts to polarise different communities of Delhi. We show entire election which was polarised. There were lots of hate speeches from senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders", she stated.
While AAP State convenor Elvis Gomes said, "For the first time, we are contesting ZP elections. After the victory of AAP in Delhi, there is an updating mood for the AAP. In order to put an end to the political circus in Goa and to bring real governance the only option is AAP", he claimed.
Gomes also said that BJP is seen compromising the issues concerning the state of Goa. BJP is keeping the party's interest above the state interest and Congress is also one and the same.
Earlier, AAP declared their first list of nine candidates for Zilla Panchayat elections which include Dinesh Borkar (Borim), Lia Gomes (Raia), Marcelina Colaco (Nuvem), Siddharth Patil (Sanvordem), Matilda D'Silva (Navelim), Brinda Silva (Curtorim), Rodolfina Vaz (Guirdolim), Sandeep Naik (Rivona) and Pobres Vaz (Cortalim).