Ponda, April 9, 2026:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa unit on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging a “deliberate conspiracy” behind the sudden cancellation of the Ponda by-election just hours before polling.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Goa State President Valmiki Naik, along with party candidate Geetesh Naik, Mahila Wing President Mamata Maben, and leader Gautam Naik, claimed that the move was orchestrated to avoid an electoral defeat.

Valmiki Naik alleged that “democracy has been murdered in Ponda,” stating that the electorate has been deliberately deprived of representation. He claimed that internal conflicts within the BJP, particularly over candidate selection, played a key role in the developments. According to him, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was reluctant to field Ritesh Naik but eventually did so under political pressure.

He further alleged that the BJP found itself in a dilemma—unwilling to lose the seat but also hesitant to allow its candidate to gain political ground—and therefore “engineered” the cancellation through legal means.

AAP leaders also pointed to alleged links between the petitioner, Pritam Harmalkar, and BJP figures, including Apurva Dalvi. They claimed that even the state government’s legal representation appeared to support the petitioner’s case, raising questions about conflict of interest. Valmiki Naik added that BJP leader Deepak Dhavalikar had acknowledged the petitioner’s association with the party.

Calling the development a “betrayal of democratic values,” Naik said the biggest losers are the people of Ponda, who may now remain without an elected representative for an extended period.

AAP candidate Geetesh Naik said the party had received an overwhelming response during campaigning, indicating strong public dissatisfaction with BJP’s governance over the past decade. He highlighted issues such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, noting that even facilities like the ID Hospital lack essential services, forcing patients to seek treatment elsewhere.

He also questioned the timing of the cancellation, asking why the election was not halted earlier if valid legal grounds existed, instead of waiting until the final hours after significant resources had been invested.

Despite the setback, Geetesh Naik asserted that he would continue to work for the people of Ponda and ensure their concerns are raised.

AAP leaders concluded by urging citizens to remain vigilant and united against what they termed as political manipulation, stating that the issue would resonate in future elections.