MARGAO
With the Congress-Goa Forward Party (GFP) alliance talks remaining deadlocked and the “Goa First” gaining traction among like-minded opposition parties other than Congress, questions over the way forward are increasingly confronting the two parties ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The issue has gained fresh attention a day after a two-member Congress delegation comprising South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes and senior working president M K Sheikh held a lengthy interaction with Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai at Goemkar Ghor, the regional party’s headquarters.
However, sources said the meeting failed to make any significant headway in the stalled alliance talks, which have remained suspended for nearly a month after the GFP called off discussions with the Congress over certain issues involving leaders of the principal Opposition party.
The Goan understands that the Congress delegation sought to ascertain what exactly the GFP was looking for from the Congress—whether it wanted a continuation of the existing alliance or was exploring the possibility of a merger of the regional party with the principal Opposition party.
Sardesai, on his part, is believed to have questioned what the local Congress leadership expected from the GFP when there had been little or no movement even after his meeting with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharage in Delhi some time ago.
The GFP chief is also understood to have reminded the Congress leaders that he had, in the recent past, offered the regional party’s merger with the Congress to the party’s national leadership, but that the proposal had failed to elicit a response.
Sources said the changing political equations within the Congress, particularly following the return of Girish Chodankar as president of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, also figured prominently in the discussions. The question of whether the Viriato Fernandes-M K Sheikh duo has any real say in decisions concerning an alliance or merger is also understood to have come up during the interaction.
Sources in the know told The Goan that Sardesai did not shut the door on further discussions with the Congress. At the same time, however, he showed no urgency in responding to the questions raised by the Congress delegation on whether the GFP was seeking a fresh alliance arrangement or considering a merger with the party.
Interestingly, even as the Congress-GFP alliance talks remain in limbo, Sardesai has once again stressed the need for a broader "Goa First" platform—a proposal mooted by like-minded parties, including the GFP and the Aam Aadmi Party, to come together to take on the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections.
The renewed emphasis on “Goa First” could add another dimension to the Opposition’s efforts to forge a broader anti-BJP alliance without the Congress, even as the Congress and GFP remain unable to find a way forward in their own alliance talks.
Cong-GF talks: What Cong said
Congress South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes said that discussions with Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai were held in a cordial manner, saying the Congress will wait for the regional party to respond.
“We tried to find out from Sardesai whether the regional party wanted a merger into the Congress or continuation of the alliance. Accordingly, we would convey the decision to the Party High Command. Suppose, if it is a merger, we will have to take it to Delhi. If the regional party is in favour of an alliance, we can discuss the nitty-gritties right here in Goa,” Viriato said.
To a question, he said no time frame has been set for the regional party to respond to questions raised by the Congress, saying “this is something we cannot give ultimatums”.
M K Sheikh admitted that the Goa Forward chief had certain reservations as well as concerns over his association with the Congress. “He was very cordial and in a good mood. He spoke to us nicely, but he has certain concerns. Since the Congress is a senior alliance partner, we have to take care of his concerns. We will have to discuss in detail and take a decision,” Sheikh added.
What Goa Forward said
Goa Forward senior leader Durgadas Kamat confirmed that party chief Vijai Sardesai had a meeting with the Congress delegation of Fernandes and Sheikh.
He, however, said the party chief had posed certain questions to the Congress delegation, to which they had no answers.
Whether the alliance talks are still on, Kamat said, “We have raised certain clear-cut questions. Since the delegation had no answers, they will have to seek answers from the Congress top leadership. We are waiting for their response.”
