Kejriwal names ex-prisons chief Elvis Gomes as AAP’s Goa CM candidate

India वोट Kar | December 20, 2016

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s Chief Minister and the Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor, has named Elvis Gomes, formerly Goa’s Inspector General of Prisons, as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the coming Goa Assembly election. He made the announcement at an election rally in the Cuncolim constituency in South Goa.

Who is Elvis Gomes

Gomes gave up his post as Inspector General of Prisons to join AAP. He will contest from Cuncolim, a seat the BJP currently holds. Introducing him, Kejriwal described Gomes as an honest officer who had spent 20 years in government service without making money by improper means, and said people of every faith were fond of him. “I propose his name as the next chief minister (candidate) of Goa,” Kejriwal told the crowd.

Kejriwal’s pitch

Kejriwal said AAP was against candidates who were criminals, communal or of bad character, and promised that the party would drop any of its nominees if proof against them came to light, even on the day before polling. He claimed Delhi had been transformed under AAP rule and said the party would never compromise on corruption. He also conceded that he and his colleagues were ordinary people who did not know how to play politics.

Turning on the BJP and the Congress, Kejriwal accused both of making Goa a “drug destination”. He said it was up to ordinary citizens to protect the state’s land and forests and to keep Goa from becoming a hub for drugs, gambling and prostitution.

AAP has so far announced 30 candidates for Goa’s 40 Assembly constituencies.

What happened next

In the 2017 Goa election the Congress won 17 seats, the BJP 13 and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party 3. Manohar Parrikar became Chief Minister after the election.

Originally published on 20 December 2016. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.