Saligao: Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao on Friday urged voters to ensure that political defectors “lose their deposits” in the 2027 assembly elections, targeting Saligao MLA Kedar Naik for switching from Congress to BJP after winning the seat on a Congress ticket in 2022.Alemao was addressing a gathering in Saligao on the fourth day of Congress’s Goy Rakhonn Yatra, which covered the Porvorim and Saligao constituencies.“Ensure that such defectors are defeated and lose their deposits. Your MLA joined BJP citing development, but Saligao is still suffering because of the stench from the garbage treatment plant, water problems and more. The people have been cheated,” Alemao said.The yatra is part of Congress’s campaign to keep the issue of defections in focus ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.Alemao also criticised the state govt over the recently opened Porvorim flyover, where two people were killed a day after its inauguration. He condemned ministers for allegedly passing the blame over the engineering flaws that led to the tragedy.“Rs 641 crores of public money has gone down the drain,” Alemao said, holding govt accountable for the lapse.
