THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Sounding the poll bugle for the 2027 Assembly elections, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Monday announced that it has initiated talks with like-minded political parties to forge a broad anti-BJP alliance, saying the party would take the lead in uniting all forces determined to defeat the ruling saffron party.
GPCC president Girish Chodankar said the decision was taken at the Congress Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting held on Sunday, following which the party reached out to its allies and other Opposition parties for discussions.
"All those parties who want to defeat the BJP, the Congress will take the lead to form a joint force alliance. It is the people's demand and we have to respect it," Chodankar said.
He said the Congress has already sent a request to Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai to begin alliance talks. "The GFP and Congress have been in an alliance since the 2022 Assembly elections. The entire Goa wants us to remain united to defeat the BJP," he said.
Launching a fresh attack on the ruling party, Chodankar alleged that the BJP was simultaneously working on a strategy to split the Opposition vote by promoting a new regional political outfit in South Goa.
"The BJP, the Chief Minister and their team are working on forming a new Salcete-based secular party ahead of the elections. The Chief Minister has set aside Rs 100 crore to form a party to divide Congress' secular votes in South Goa," he alleged.
Although Chodankar declined to name any individual, his remarks came in response to former minister Micky Pacheco's recent announcement that he would float a new political party.
"I don't want to name anyone. Before every election, they try to bring in a new party to divide Congress' secular votes in Salcete," Chodankar alleged.
He, however, expressed confidence that the BJP's strategy would not succeed. "Irrespective of what strategy the BJP adopts or how much money it spends, the people of Goa have decided to defeat the BJP," he claimed.
On the organisational front, Chodankar said strengthening the party structure remains Congress' immediate priority ahead of the polls. He said the party would first reorganise its block committees before inducting new members.
