PANAJI
Hours after the Goa Forward Party (GFP) reiterated its priority of bringing like-minded political forces together ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, Congress on Sunday said it remained open to an alliance with its existing ally and was also willing to consider an electoral understanding with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Congress working president MK Sheikh said the party was “positive” about a possible alliance with GFP, despite the regional party having recently joined hands with AAP under the ‘Goa First’ alliance. “Congress was always ready for an alliance with GFP. Even today, we have kept not just the doors but even the windows open. We are positive,” Sheikh said.
He said Congress believed that opposition forces needed to come together, arguing that this was necessary to prevent a repeat of a BJP government.
“We know that the people of Goa do not want the BJP government again and for that it is essential that all forces come together. It is the sentiment and demand of the people of Goa that all forces should come together,” Sheikh said.
The Congress leader pointed out that GFP was still formally an alliance partner of the party, although the regional outfit had discontinued talks with Congress on a future electoral arrangement before announcing its tie-up with AAP.
“Despite being a national party, we kept our ego aside. We went ahead and placed a proposal before Vijai Sardesai- whether he wants an alliance or merger, how should we go forward. But despite that, we did not get a positive response,” Sheikh said.
Sheikh said Congress would also examine the possibility of an understanding with AAP if the proposal was formally brought to the party. “GFP has announced the AAP alliance. If the proposal comes before us, even from AAP, then we will rethink on it,” he said.
He claimed Congress had previously approached AAP for an alliance but did not receive a response. “We had contacted AAP before, but they never responded. They and GFP went ahead and launched their alliance,” Shaikh said.
Cong dissolves eight block committees
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Sunday dissolved eight of its Block Congress Committees with immediate effect, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
GPCC president Girish Chodankar in a notice issued has announced that the block committees dissolved are Valpoi, Pernem, Ponda, Fatorda, Shiroda, St Cruz, Mapusa and Curchorem.
The notice states that the dissolved committees will be reconstituted shortly, but does not specify the reasons for the organisational changes or indicate who will head the reconstituted committees. The move comes as political parties in Goa step up organisational preparations ahead of the next Assembly elections.
