Speaking at a government function here, Pramod Sawant also said that while the monetary worth of AAP's promise to offer free power up to 200 units to domestic consumers, may amount to around Rs. 200 per household, the state BJP-led coalition government was already providing direct cash transfer benefits to most households in Goa to the tune of thousands of rupees, through various government schemes.

 

"It is easy to fool people by saying power will be given free. Instead of giving free power, we already given so much more money to the people," Sawant said.

 

"And if they give power free, it will only be to those Delhi residents who have second homes in Goa, not Goans. Many Delhiites have second homes here," Sawant said.

 

The ruling BJP and a resurgent AAP have been engaging in a war of words for the last few days over the Delhi power tariff model, which Delhi AAP MLA Raghav Chadha promised to emulate in Goa if the party wins the 2022 state assembly polls.

 

Raghav Chadha, who was in Goa earlier this week and Goa Power Minister Nilesh Cabral were also involved in a verbal feud after the former accepted Cabral's challenge for a public debate on the power tariff in both the states.

 

Cabral eventually backed out from the challenge arguing that it was against protocol for a Cabinet minister to engage in a public debate with an "ordinary MLA".