'Grand alliance' forming in Goa? AAP open to alliance as Congress, GFP begin talks
In the 2022 state elections, the Goa BJP won 20 out of 40 seats but managed to convince eight Congress MLAs to join its fold
Preliminary talks for a potential alliance in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections have commenced between the Indian National Congress and the Goa Forward Party, with the Aam Aadmi Party also expressing interest in joining such a coalition. The primary objective for the opposition parties is to collectively challenge and unseat the incumbent BJP government. These discussions, involving key leaders from the involved parties, are aimed at consolidating votes and forming a strong united front for the upcoming polls, with future meetings scheduled to address specifics like seat distribution.
Preliminary talks for a potential alliance in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections have commenced between the Indian National Congress and the Goa Forward Party, with the Aam Aadmi Party also expressing interest in joining such a coalition. The primary objective for the opposition parties is to collectively challenge and unseat the incumbent BJP government. These discussions, involving key leaders from the involved parties, are aimed at consolidating votes and forming a strong united front for the upcoming polls, with future meetings scheduled to address specifics like seat distribution.
Preliminary talks for a potential alliance in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections have commenced between the Indian National Congress and the Goa Forward Party, with the Aam Aadmi Party also expressing interest in joining such a coalition. The primary objective for the opposition parties is to collectively challenge and unseat the incumbent BJP government. These discussions, involving key leaders from the involved parties, are aimed at consolidating votes and forming a strong united front for the upcoming polls, with future meetings scheduled to address specifics like seat distribution.
The Indian National Congress and the Goa Forward Party have launched preliminary talks to fight the 2027 State Assembly polls in alliance, a report said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also reportedly indicated its willingness to join a potential tie-up.
It was the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, Girish Chodankar, who clarified that he had held talks with Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai on fighting the polls together. The two leaders reportedly met in the Fatorda town of South Goa on Saturday.
Polls for the 40-member Goa Assembly are likely to be held in February–March 2027.
The BJP is in power in the state with the support of 33 MLAs. While 28 of these legislators belong to the party, three are independents, and two others are from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). In the 2022 elections, the BJP had won 20 out of 40 seats. But later, it inducted eight Congress MLAs into the party.
The Congress currently has three MLAs, the AAP has two, while the GFP and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) have one legislator each.
The Congress and GFP had fought the 2022 Goa Assembly polls together. According to Chodankar, Saturday’s talks were preliminary, and a decision has to be taken on renewing the alliance.
"We will be meeting again to hammer out and finalise details, including seat-sharing," PTI quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik on Saturday held a meeting with the party's committee formed to decide on a tie-up with like-minded parties.
Talking to reporters, Naik said the AAP is ready to ally with like-minded parties, as "the main aim is to defeat the corrupt BJP government in the state".
The ruling BJP in Goa last month announced it has set a target of winning at least 30 seats in the Assembly elections to be at the helm in the coastal state for the fourth consecutive time.