Amit Palekar is AAP's CM candidate in Goa, Arvind Kejriwal announces ahead of Assembly polls

Panaji (Goa): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its Chief Ministerial candidate for Goa. Amit Palekar will be AAP's CM candidate, Delhi chief minister and AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said. The party will be contesting all the 40 Assembly seats in Goa. Palekar is an advocate by profession and comes from the Bhandari community, Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal had held a door-to-door campaign on Sunday in Cortalim village of Goa, which is scheduled to go to polls this February. As a part of the campaign, Kejriwal along with other party members was seen interacting with voters in Cortalim. Pamphlets were distributed to the voters during the campaign.

Kejriwal has promised cash assistance of Rs 1,000 per month for every woman above the age of 18 years if his party came to power in the state in the 2022 Assembly elections. Kejriwal said, "Griha Aadhar benefit for women will be increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 per month. Rs 1,000 per month will be given to every female over 18 years. This is the biggest and the most effective women empowerment programme in the world." He added, "They say Kejriwal is giving `freebies`. Till date, only ministers used to get freebies on taxpayers` money. What leaders are getting is a freebie, what people are getting is their right." 

Apart from the ruling BJP and opposition Congress, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Shiv Sena and other parties will also be in the fray. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of the ruling BJP has said that his party will form a majority government with at least 22 seats in the Union Territory. 

Goa will go to the Assembly polls on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. Kejriwal's announcement comes a day after he announced the CM face for Punjab Assembly Elections, which is comedian-turned-politician, Bhagwant Mann. 

(With ANI inputs)

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