PANAJI
The Congress and Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) have reached an in-principle understanding to fight the 2027 Goa Assembly elections together, in a move aimed at consolidating the anti-BJP vote and preventing its division.
However, the parties are yet to finalise the electoral arrangement. Seat-sharing and other organisational matters will be discussed in the coming days.
The understanding was reached after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting between alliance committees of the two parties on Sunday, where the political situation in Goa and issues concerning the State were discussed at length.
Announcing the development, GPCC president Girish Chodankar said the proposed alliance was aimed at creating a united and credible alternative to the BJP. “This is not an alliance for the sake of numbers. This is a political initiative to save Goa. The BJP has benefited for too long from the fragmentation of votes that want change. We cannot allow the same mistake to be repeated in 2027,” Chodankar said.
He said the two parties had agreed that the anti-BJP vote could not be allowed to fragment again. “There will be further discussions and negotiations. We will approach every issue with maturity and flexibility. The only red line is Goa’s interest,” Chodankar said.
The two parties said further discussions would be held to convert the in-principle understanding into a concrete electoral framework ahead of the 2027 polls.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said both sides had placed their priorities on the table and discussed them frankly before agreeing in principle to contest the elections together. “The people of Goa want change, and we must ensure that the anti-BJP vote is not divided,” Alemao said.
RGP State president Shavina Naik Shirodkar described the discussions as constructive and said the future and interests of Goans remained at the centre of the proposed understanding.
RGP national president and MLA Viresh Borkar and South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes also participated in the discussions.
Chodankar said the alliance would focus on protecting Goa’s land, environment, cultural heritage, employment opportunities and natural resources.
The Congress delegation comprised Chodankar, Alemao, working president M K Shaikh and Fernandes, while the RGP delegation included Borkar, Shirodkar, Alliance Coordination Committee chairman Amol Navelkar and other committee members.
