By Rupesh Samant

Panaji, May 13: Adopting an unique way for gathering funds for Panaji by- elections, Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) has begun going around seeking alms from the voters in the constituency.

“While other parties are paying people for votes, we are asking people donate for clean politics. We want them to fund our campaign in whatever small way possible and also assure their vote to our candidate,” GSM’s Women Wing President Roshan Samant said.

GSM has fielded its mentor and former Goa RSS Chief Subhash Velingkar as its candidate in Panaji by-election who is pitted against BJP candidate Siddharth Kunkolienkar and Congress’ Atanasio Monserratte and others.

“The response of people have been encouraging in the sense that almost all the time people have donated. We go around with the donation box during the campaign and appeal people to contribute,” she said.

The GSM leader alleged that the parties like Congress and BJP are busy buying votes, while Velingkar is getting support on his own. “This is our first step towards cleansing the political system in the State,” she said.

Samant said that GSM was born with the intention to clean the politics by fielding credible candidates.

GSM had pre-poll alliance with Shiv Sena and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party during 2017 Goa Assembly Election but could not win on any of the seat.

Samant said that the party has given a candidate with clean image in the form of Velingkar, who is having acceptance across the people. “Several times, when we go around seeking alms, the people who are not from Panaji constituency too contribute,” she said.

Samant said that GSM has given ‘people-oriented’ manifesto for Panaji by-election as against ‘project-oriented’ manifesto by BJP.

The by-election in Panaji constituency was necessitated after the demise of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who expired on March 17, 2019.