Cong confident of winning 27 seats in 2027 Assembly polls

Congress leaders addressed a press conference on Tuesday.

PANAJI

Encouraged by its improved performance in the recent Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, the Congress on Tuesday said it was confident of winning 27 seats in the 2027 Assembly elections. The party said the results showed clear anti-BJP feeling and growing public anger against the ruling party.

Addressing a press conference, GPCC president Amit Patkar said the ZP results had firmly placed the Congress as the main opposition party in Goa and offered a clear path for the party’s revival.

Patkar said the results reflected strong anti-incumbency against the BJP. “There was visible anger and anti-BJP sentiment among voters. We are doing a booth-wise analysis, which will help us strengthen the party organisation and prepare better for the 2027 elections,” he said.

Highlighting the party’s growth, Patkar compared the latest results with earlier elections. “In the 2020 ZP elections, Congress won only four seats. This time, we have increased the number to 10. In the 2022 Assembly elections, we won 11 seats. Based on this trend and the ZP results, we are confident of winning 27 seats in 2027,” he said.

He admitted there were organisational weaknesses in some areas and said the party needed to strengthen its blocks and grassroots network. “In several constituencies, candidates were declared late. Even then, our workers worked hard on the ground, which helped us win 10 seats,” he added.

Taking a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Patkar said its presence in Goa had been “exposed” in the ZP elections. He claimed AAP lost both seats in constituencies where it has sitting MLAs and alleged that these were BJP-backed candidates.

Patkar also accused the BJP of using money, muscle power and government machinery to influence voters, but said the party still failed to retain the 33 seats it had won on its own in 2020.

South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes echoed similar views and said the Congress would now focus on strengthening its grassroots base. “We need to work harder to support our workers and build morale ahead of 2027. Our clear aim is to win 27 seats,” he said.