Oppn says change needed to safeguard Goa’s future
Congress and Goa Forward leaders at the carnival festivities at Fatorda on Saturday in the presence of former UK MP Keith Vaz.
MARGAO
The four-day Carnival festivities organised by Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai under the banner of “We for Fatorda” began on a high political pitch on Saturday, with senior Congress leaders sharing the stage and signalling a possible alliance for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Addressing thousands of revellers, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar made a bold declaration that the Congress and the Goa Forward Party would form the next government in Goa in 2027. The statement, delivered from Sardesai’s home turf, was widely viewed as a significant political message amid the festive celebrations.
Sardesai used the cultural platform – a space he has often leveraged to articulate political positions – to urge voters to oust the BJP-led government in the next Assembly polls and “save Goa”. Striking a populist note, he reiterated his demand for dual citizenship for Goans settled abroad, warning that if the BJP failed to address the issue, it should be “shown the door” in 2027.
“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot meet the demands of the Goan diaspora, we will find a way. We will show how dual citizenship can be given to Goans working abroad. Let us first remove the BJP and form the government,” Sardesai said, adding that the presence of Congress Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakare and Youth Congress President Archit Naik on the dais reflected growing coordination between the two parties.
The event drew further attention with the presence of Congress Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakare, GPCC chief Amit Patkar, Youth Congress President Archit Naik, and former UK MP Keith Vaz alongside Sardesai – a show of unity that many described as politically significant.
In his address, Sardesai said the Goa Forward Party had already placed certain proposals before the Congress and called for swift decisions. “We are in a year that will make or break Goa. Everything will happen this year. Of late, the Congress has been going slow; we want them to go fast,” he remarked.
Emphasising the need for decisive action, Sardesai asserted that a change in government was essential to safeguard Goa’s future. “We need quick decisions that will go a long way in saving Goa for posterity. We are committed to bringing about change,” he said.
With political messaging dominating the cultural celebrations, the Fatorda Carnival has added fresh momentum to Opposition efforts to consolidate forces ahead of the 2027 electoral battle.
