Exit of Ramrao Wagh deepens crisis for AAP

Margao: AAP has been dealt a severe blow with the sudden resignation of its state vice-president, Ramrao Surya Wagh, from all organisational positions and primary membership on Wednesday night. The development, coming barely 10 days before the zilla panchayat elections, has left AAP staring at a leadership vacuum at a critical juncture.

Wagh tendered his resignation letter to state president Amit Palekar. He had switched over from BJP to AAP in Dec 2021. He contested the 2017 assembly election from St Andre constituency on a BJP ticket before joining AAP, “inspired by Kejriwal”. He went on to contest the 2022 assembly polls as an AAP candidate.

The timing of his departure deepened concerns within party circles, particularly as AAP struggles with a shortage of prominent campaigners who can effectively connect with rural voters. Sources indicate that Wagh’s decision stems from deep-rooted disagreements over the party’s electoral strategy. Significantly, Wagh is learned to have advocated for forming a coalition with Congress for the ZP polls, a proposal that AAP leadership rejected. Wagh clearly alluded to this difference of opinion over alliance politics, and this is believed to have triggered his exit.

“The party spent the past year cultivating support in villages, highlighting failures of govt including erratic water supply, bad roads, waste management issues, etc., in panchayat areas. Wagh was considered instrumental in connecting these issues with the prevailing sentiments of the grassroots,” a political commentator said.

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Kejriwal to campaign in state till Sun




Margao: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will be on a three-day visit to Goa to campaign for the zilla panchayat elections and meet party volunteers, AAP state president Amit Palekar said.

Kejriwal, who will be in Goa till Sunday, will address public meetings at Chimbel, Xeldem and Colva, besides interacting with residents at Velim. AAP seeks to capitalise on his presence to enhance its performance in the local body elections. “Kejriwal’s visit to Chimbel, joined by Palekar and candidate Maria Cristalina Antao, will give a strong push to the people’s movement for transparent governance,” a party source said.

The visit holds special significance for Chimbel, where AAP has actively supported villagers protesting the proposed Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects at Kadamba Plateau. TNN

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