Bolstered by two MLAs, AAP goes solo, fails to reap dividends, keeps 2020 score

Panaji: AAP’s ambitious solo run in Goa’s zilla panchayat elections was supposed to signal a calculated and confident stance ahead of the 2027 assembly polls. By fielding fresh faces and deploying national leadership for door-to-door campaigning, AAP sought to solidify its identity independent of a traditional alliance.However, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party failed to make a state-wide mark, with the party struggling to hold on to seats represented by its own MLAs. The party lost in Velim and Benaulim, where Congress romped home to victory. A slender lead of 73 votes in Colva failed to provide any comfort to AAP.The huge setback in Velim, where the party failed to create a formidable fight for the top position, appeared to vindicate Congress’ move to avoid an alliance with AAP. Velim and Benaulim form part of the traditional Congress base in Salcete, and for the grand old party to consolidate its hold in the major constituency is a setback for AAP MLAs Cruz Silva and Venzy Viegas.The ZP results will lend further credence to claims that AAP divided the anti-BJP vote without eking out any tangible gains at the state level, the poll data shows. In Chimbel, the votes were split among Congress, AAP, and RG, leading to BJP’s victory. The result lends further fuel to arguments that AAP will split the opposition vote. “Had there been a united opposition, the results would have been different for BJP,” said a poll observer.Political insiders say that AAP’s outright refusal to align reflects a long-term play for dominance, yet the immediate fallout suggests that their “overambitious” reach may have prioritised party-building over the immediate goal of dethroning BJP.In the 2020 ZP polls, AAP made its electoral debut by winning the Benaulim ZP seat and went on to win two more seats in the 2022 assembly polls. With Kejriwal and Atishi, two former Delhi chief ministers, walking door to door to seek support for the party in Goa, their intentions are clear that they want to focus on the 2027 assembly polls.AAP appeared to be overambitious in its move to contest 40 seats across Goa, a party functionary admitted.For AAP, Chimbel and Santa Cruz were key constituencies to prove that they could play decisive roles in a future alliance for the assembly elections. AAP’s national spokesperson Valmiki Naik said that the Santa Cruz seat was one of the deal breakers for the proposed alliance as all parties were staking claim to it.