PANAJI
Efforts to bring opposition parties together ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections gained momentum on Sunday, with Congress and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) holding their first round of alliance discussions.
However, the absence of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao from the crucial meeting raised eyebrows, particularly as seat-sharing emerged as the central subject of discussion.
All India Congress Committee Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare, who chaired the meeting along with GFP president Vijai Sardesai, described the discussions as positive and said the two parties had agreed to meet again soon to take the process forward.
Thakare clarified that seat-sharing was discussed during the over two-hour meeting, but maintained that it was only a preliminary exercise. He said Chodankar and Alemao would be part of the next round of discussions, explaining that the GPCC president was unwell and had been hospitalised, while Alemao could not attend due to his mother’s ill health and other commitments.
Dismissing speculation that GFP had demanded six seats, Thakare said there was no discussion centred on any specific number of seats, whether six, eight, 10 or 12. He said the talks covered the broader political situation in Goa, including the electoral prospects of opposition parties and their respective constituencies.
Sardesai too described the meeting as a good beginning, saying both parties appeared to be on the same wavelength on political issues. However, he said seat-sharing would be discussed in the next meeting in the presence of all concerned leaders.
Sardesai also reiterated his appeal for all parties genuinely opposed to the BJP, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to come together on a common platform, arguing that voters wanted a united opposition rather than a fragmented contest.
While GFP has already initiated discussions with Congress, Sardesai said the party had not yet held talks with Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), adding that Congress leadership would take the matter forward. Thakare confirmed that Congress would also hold discussions with RGP, saying earlier interactions with the party had been positive.
