Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday declared Elvis Gomes, a bureaucrat who recently took voluntary retirement and joined AAP, as its chief ministerial candidate for Goa.
The announcement was made at a public rally of AAP in south Goa's Cuncolim village. Mr. Kejriwal said that Mr. Gomes, who has been a State civil service officer for over 20 years was non-corrupt and a well-accepted face among all religious communities.
“Today before you, I am bringing forward a proposal. I propose Elvis Gomes as the next Chief Minister of Goa,” Mr. Kejriwal said at the meeting which was attended by nearly 5,000 AAP workers and supporters.
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Mr. Gomes joined the AAP in October this year, soon after taking voluntary retirement. He was then Inspector General of Prisons.
Praising Mr. Gomes, Mr. Kejriwal said, he was a “dead honest officer.”
“When a person who had never got a chance to indulge in corruption, says I am honest, that is not important. Mr. Elvis has been in Goa administration for 20 years. He could have amassed crores of rupees. He did not make a single paisa. He is a dead honest officer,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
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Mr. Gomes is named as candidate to contest the Cuncolim seat in south Goa, which is currently represented by BJP. Goa will go to polls in early 2017.