The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday announced its chief ministerial face for the February 14 Goa assembly poll, with Delhi Chief Minister and the party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal nominating 46-year-old lawyer Amit Palekar for the position.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Kejriwal described Palekar as a "credible, young face" of the Aam Aadmi Party.
“We said we will give a Goa CM face whose heart beats for Goa and who is willing to give his life for Goa. Who can take everyone along in Goa irrespective of religion, caste. And most importantly he should be an honest man. That man is Amit Palekar,” Kejriwal told a press conference in Panaji.
Palekar hails from the Bhandari samaj, a large and politically crucial non-Brahmin caste grouping in Goa. Last year, Kejriwal had said that the Aam Aadmi Party would field a chief ministerial face from the Bhandari samaj, saying that one of the state's largest caste groupings, had not been given adequate representation in top political echelons in the state.
Speaking to reporters after Kejriwal mentioned his candidature for the Chief Minister's post, Palekar said that he himself had been a victim of injustice when it came to applying for a government position, before he went on to become one of the most sought after criminal lawyers in Goa.
“I was a victim of scams. Despite being a state ranker, because my father had no money I didn't get a government job. And I decided that one day I will fight against this injustice. I want to thank Arvind Kejriwal for this opportunity,” Palekar said.
“You have seen the dirty politics in the last five years and in the last two months, you have seen it reach such a level that the Goans have begun to feel ashamed. We have entered politics to change this and are asking for one chance to bring a change,” he added.
The Aam Aadmi Party is going alone in the February 14 assembly polls in Goa. The party has already made several pre-poll promises to Goan voters which includes financial doles for women, unemployed youngsters as well as populist schemes related to domestic power and water consumption.
Watch the latest DH Videos here: