By Rupesh Samant
Panaji: The talk of opposition unity ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections has once again gained momentum, thanks to a fresh initiative by Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai. But the question that looms large is — will this attempt at forging an alliance turn into a political reality or remain a mirage in Goa’s fragmented opposition landscape?
Sardesai’s outreach is seen as a genuine attempt to bring together like-minded forces such as the Congress, Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, the key challenge lies in whether the Congress high command in Delhi will reciprocate with the same enthusiasm. Without Delhi’s nod, the proposed unity may struggle to go beyond a symbolic handshake.
If the Congress leadership continues to delay or hesitate, the road ahead for leaders like Altone D’Costa and Yuri Alemao could become uncertain. Both have emerged as strong regional faces of the Congress, but their political future could depend on whether the party is willing to form bold alliances rather than contest in isolation.
For the RGP and GFP, the stakes are relatively low. Both are young political outfits with limited organisational reach but enjoy a strong public presence across Goa, thanks to their charismatic leaders, Manoj Parab and Vijai Sardesai respectively. Their popularity often surpasses that of any Congress leader, including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.
As for the Aam Aadmi Party, it risks suffering from FOMO — the fear of missing out — if the alliance takes shape without them. At the same time, AAP’s reservations are not entirely misplaced. The party’s apprehensions stem from past betrayals. During the 2022 elections, AAP had warned that “Congress is equal to BJP,” a prophecy that seemed to come true when eight Congress MLAs defected despite taking pledges of loyalty in temples and churches.
Even Vijai Sardesai, in an interview with Goa News Hub, candidly admitted that the onus lies on the people to ensure there are no defections in the future. The fear that MLAs might switch over to the BJP after getting elected needs to be addressed in a strong and credible manner.
Speaking to GNH, AAP Goa Desk in-charge Atishi Marlena said that even if AAP wins 10 seats and Congress gets 14, the BJP will still form the government as Congress legislators would eventually cross over.
Critics argue that it might be too early to discuss alliances when the elections are two years away. However, Sardesai disagrees. He insists that the opposition must unite before the Zilla Panchayat elections, which he calls the “semi-finals.” If the BJP manages to win the semi-finals, Sardesai warns, it will be difficult to stop them in the finals — the 2027 Assembly polls.
As Goa’s political scene heats up, one thing is clear: the idea of opposition unity may sound appealing, but unless built on trust, coordination, and mutual respect, it risks remaining a political mirage rather than a movement for change.
