Panaji: Congress leaders in Goa have expressed support for forming an alliance of opposition parties for the 2027 state elections, while maintaining that the proposal would require approval from the party’s high command.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar said that the Congress is a cadre-based, state-wide party with presence in all 40 constituencies. “We are fully capable of contesting all seats on our own strength. However, our priority remains unity of opposition and safeguarding Goa’s identity and democratic values,” he added.
Patkar’s statement comes days after the opposition leaders including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress MLA Altone D’Costa, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai and Revolutionary Goans Party President Manoj Parab during a pre-Diwali event shared a common stage, pronouncing the need for united opposition against BJP in the year 2027.
Patkar on Monday said that as far as any alliance of opposition parties is concerned, such matters are decided by the Congress High Command after detailed discussions with all stakeholders.
“The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee will always abide by the decision of the leadership in the larger interest of strengthening secular and democratic forces in Goa,” he said.
Patkar said that the Congress party believes that every like-minded force which stands against the BJP’s politics of division and corruption should come together on a common platform of principles and policies.
“The modalities of such alliances, including with parties like AAP or others, are issues that will be taken up at the appropriate level by our central leadership,” he added.
Congress MLA Altone D’Costa said that the local leaders will convince the party high command for the alliance of the opposition parties in 2027 elections.
He said that all the opposition parties including Aam Aadmi Party should be together against the BJP.
AAP has preferred to stay out of the alliance showing distrust over the Congress. The AAP had claimed that Congress was a MLA bank for the BJP.
