Congress-AAP face-off looms in Salcete

MARGAO

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar’s assertion that the Congress flag will fly again in Benaulim and Velim in 2027 has set the stage for another round of political confrontation between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Salcete, a taluka that remains crucial to the electoral fortunes of the Opposition in Goa.

In fact, Chodankar’s vow to reclaim Benaulim and Velim signals a renewed battle for the secular, anti-BJP vote in minority-dominated Salcete in the upcoming polls.

The Congress and AAP have crossed swords in Salcete in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections, with the latter not only making significant electoral inroads in the taluka, but opening its account in 2022 in Goa by winning the Benaulim and Velim constituencies, denting the Congress’s traditional political space in an area where minority voters constitute an influential electoral bloc.

Chodankar’s statement assumes significance against this backdrop. By declaring the Congress’s determination to wrest both constituencies from AAP, the GPCC chief has sent a clear political message that the party intends to reclaim the ground it lost to its Opposition rival and re-establish itself as the dominant force in Salcete.

However, the road to electoral recovery is unlikely to be easy. Political observers believe AAP will not allow the Congress to challenge its hold over Benaulim and Velim without a fight. Having secured victories in both constituencies in 2022, the party is expected to mobilise its organisational machinery and work towards consolidating its support base well ahead of the 2027 elections.

Sources indicate that AAP’s ambitions may extend beyond retaining the two seats. The party could seek to expand its influence across the remaining six constituencies in Salcete, where the Congress continues to have an established political presence.

Chodankar’s statement could be aimed at energising party cadres, workers and supporters, particularly in constituencies where the Congress believes it has the potential to regain lost ground. The message also appears designed to reassure the party organisation that the leadership is serious about mounting a determined challenge to AAP and restoring the Congress’s position in Salcete.

The stakes are considerable. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress won only three of Salcete’s eight constituencies, while AAP captured Benaulim and Velim, with remaining three seats shared by the Goa Forward, BJP and an Independent.

The emerging contest also has implications beyond the two constituencies. Salcete has traditionally been a politically significant region for the Congress, and the party’s performance there could have a bearing on its broader prospects in the State. A stronger showing in the taluka would not only improve its seat tally but also strengthen its claim to form the next government.

Chodankar’s statement may have been guided by another factor – the reported resentment against the BJP government. The Congress may hope that the resentment consolidates in favour of the party candidates and help the party to win as many seats as possible from Salcete.

With both parties seeking to strengthen their claim over the secular and anti-BJP political space, the contest in Salcete is likely to intensify in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly elections. The battle for Benaulim and Velim, in particular, could emerge as a test of the Congress’s ability to reclaim lost ground and AAP’s capacity to defend its electoral gains.

File photo of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas celebrating his victory in the 2022 Assembly election.

MARGAO: For the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been a thorn in the flesh of the party in Salcete ever since the Arvind Kejriwal-led party made its presence in the taluka during the 2017 Assembly elections.

Although AAP failed to win a single seat in 2017, it made significant inroads into the minority-dominated taluka, polling around 21,720 votes and signalling its emergence as a force to reckon within Goa’s political landscape.

The party secured sizeable votes in minority-dominated constituencies, including Benaulim, Velim, Nuvem, Cuncolim and Curtorim, marking the beginning of its political journey in the State.

AAP, however, failed to make a significant impact in Salcete during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, polling just 13,940 votes in the taluka. The party bounced back in the 2020 Zilla Panchayat elections, opening its electoral account in Goa by winning the Benaulim ZP seat.

The victory marked a turning point for the Kejriwal-led party, which went on to win the Benaulim and Velim Assembly constituencies in the 2022 elections. The twin victories underlined AAP’s growing influence in Salcete and strengthened its position in Goa politics.

However, the party suffered a major setback in the 2025 Zilla Panchayat elections, losing the Benaulim seat to Congress candidate Luiza Rodrigues. The defeat was seen as a significant boost for the Congress, signalling a possible revival of its fortunes in the constituency.

AAP also lost the Velim ZP seat, despite representing the constituency in the Goa Legislative Assembly. The defeats in both Benaulim and Velim have energised Congress workers and supporters, with voices emerging from within the party opposing any move to forge an alliance with AAP.

Buoyed by the results, Congress workers are expressing confidence in the party’s prospects of reclaiming both Benaulim and Velim in the 2027 Assembly elections.