The coastal side of Salcete has come alive to the Zilla Panchayat seat by-poll for the Benaulim seat with political interests spanning across the landscape of the State. With the BJP wresting complete control of the Zilla Panchayat body, this election may appear inconsequential on the face of it. However, the deep undercurrents and the political power play in the background have turned the contest on its head with the alliance coming into focus.
Interestingly, while Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have agreed on an alliance for the Zilla Panchayat by-election, at the Centre the AAP has ruled out the possibility of an alliance with the Congress for the 2027 Assembly polls saying that arrangement was only for the Lok Sabha elections. The Delhi decision was recently taken after an organisational meeting chaired by AAP Delhi Convenor Gopal Rai among other senior party leaders. The question is, against the Delhi background, why would AAP settle for an alliance in Benaulim, an area which it considers its stronghold?
On the flip side, the alliance formula may appear to be a move to keep AAP-Congress unity intact with Yuri sounding obligatory to the role played by the allies in the recent South Goa Lok Sabha contest. The question here is, how does this alliance benefit Congress if there is no scope for contesting any further elections on a united front? The decision to go with AAP defies political logic, and if there is any hope of striking an alliance for the 2027 election, at this stage, it appears as vague as a shadow.
Backing the AAP candidate could backfire for Congress if ground workers are not aligning with the party line, especially when there are expectations from the former. The battle lines for now are complex. Royla Fernandes, the Congress leader and GPCC general secretary has quit the party to contest as Independent. Pele Fernandes, a popular name in the fishing community and a Goa Forward member has expressed support for Independent candidate Grrayfans Fernandes. The Alemao clan appears divided over Benaulim politics for the first time and there are differences within other political groups, including NCP-aligned leaders. How does the Congress galvanise support for the alliance candidate, given the sharp divisions? There are chances of facing the embarrassment of not being able to contribute much.
On another note, for the first time, the election will see the Alemaos on opposite sides. While Yuri backs the INDIA Bloc candidate, Churchill Alemao and his son Savio have thrown their weight behind Independent candidate Grrayfans. Warren Alemao, on the other hand, has not made up his mind on support but has strongly opposed the alliance candidate. This may sound like a proxy war, but there is cross-fire across turfs that threatens to tear open the rivalries in the Alemao camps.
Amid all the hustle and bustle, the focus remains on AAP and whether it can retain the seat. Because there are significant political implications to this election. Firstly, an AAP victory will reinforce the alliance concept. A defeat, however, will come as a major blow to AAP MLA Venzy Viegas and the INDIA Bloc if viewed from the perspective of the 2027 elections. It is certainly a make-or-break contest for AAP and an acid test for the alliance.
