Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday launched a stinging attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he understands only the "language
of votes", and appealed to voters to crush the BJP in the 2027 Goa assembly polls. Addressing AAP volunteers in Margao, Kejriwal urged people to unite, saying the BJP's defeat would "shatter PM Modi's arrogance". He said the drubbing of the BJP in Goa will force the prime minister to withdraw the E20 policy. "Modi ji doesn't listen to anyone. He thinks he will win anyway. He thinks people will vote for him no matter what he does,” Kejriwal said. Referring to a conversation he claimed to have had with a person in Goa, Kejriwal said the coastal state's voters could "make Modi sweat" by defeating the BJP. "If this time Modi ji thinks that the BJP will win Goa... If the people of Goa come together and defeat the BJP, then Modi ji's arrogance will be shattered," he said. Referring to protests by students in New Delhi that forced then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign, Kejriwal alleged that the Centre was compelled to act because it felt that public support was turning against it. "When it comes to votes, only then will Modi ji understand. He understands only the language of votes, and he does not understand any other language," the AAP national convener said. He claimed that if the BJP loses the Goa elections, the Centre will withdraw the E20 petrol blending policy by March 15 (2027). "This time, if the people of Goa come together and defeat the BJP, the results will come on March 10 (2027). And you can quote me on this: 'by March 15, Modi ji will withdraw E20'," he said. Hinting that the AAP will make E20 policy as one of the main poll planks, Kejriwal said, "The key is in your hands. If you want to save your vehicle, your motorcycle, your car, your scooter, then break Modi ji's arrogance once. This time, defeat Modi ji in Goa." The AAP, which has two MLAs in the 40-member House, has stepped up preparations for the next assembly elections. In the 2022 assembly elections, the BJP won the highest 20 seats, followed by Congress, which bagged 11 seats, the Goa Forward Party (1), Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party (2), Revolutionary Goans Party (1), and Independents (3).
