AAP Names Housing Board Scam Accused Elvis Gomes As Goa CM Candidate

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared Elvis Gomes as its chief ministerial candidate in Goa. The announcement was made at a rally on Monday evening by the AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Gomes will contest from South Goa's Cuncolim seat, which is currently held by Subhash Naik of the BJP.

Gomes joined the AAP in October this year, soon after retiring from government service. He was posted as Inspector General of Prisons at the time of his retirement.

Gomes is now the President of Goa Football Association. He has held major official posts in Goa. He served as director of Municipal Administration and Tourism, chairperson of Goa Housing Board, commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Panjim, and Captain of Ports.

According to Hindustan Times, the 53-year-old took voluntary retirement in July 2016 after alleging “victimisation” by the ruling BJP government. According to media reports, an FIR filed against him and former state tourism minister Nilkanth Halarnkar in the Housing Board scam could have been the reason behind his resignation.

The two have been accused of converting land zone to commercial and were booked by the Anti-Corruption Bureau under Section 120-B, 420 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act in July.