From unity calls to solo signals, Vijai changes tune

Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai’s birthday celebrations on Sunday became a talking point in political circles after he dropped enough hints about going it alone in the 2027 elections.

MARGAO
On his 55th birthday celebrations at the Fatorda grounds last year, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai had strongly advocated opposition unity and even expressed his willingness to make personal and political sacrifices in the larger interest of Goa and its people.
Attribute it to the lukewarm response from the Congress to his proposal to merge the regional outfit with the Congress and other issues relating to alliances, the Goa Forward Party chief appeared to strike a markedly different tone during his 56th birthday celebrations at the SGPDA grounds on Sunday.
In fact, this year's celebrations were marked by enough hints to suggest that the Goa Forward Party may be contemplating contesting the 2027 Assembly elections on its own to take on the ruling BJP.
While Sardesai stopped short of unveiling what he described as a larger political plan for Goa, political observers believe he may have deferred the announcement after a priest appealed for patience and urged opposition parties to remain united in their efforts to challenge the BJP in 2027.
With the celebrations now over, a familiar question is once again being raised among opposition supporters: Will Goa's opposition parties come together in 2027 to end the BJP's 15-year rule in the State?
Sardesai's remarks have also reignited speculation about the future of the Congress-Goa Forward alliance. Political observers are trying to decipher exactly what the Goa Forward chief expects from the Congress — whether he is still seeking a merger of the regional party with the Congress or the continuation of the Congress-GFP alliance based on mutually agreed terms.
If a merger remains an option, questions arise over the conditions under which such a move could take place and whether Congress is prepared to accommodate the aspirations of the regional party. On the other hand, if the alliance route is preferred, seat-sharing is likely to emerge as a key issue, with discussions expected to focus on how many constituencies the Congress would be willing to leave for Goa Forward and what the regional party's expectations would be.
Significantly, Sardesai did not refrain from targeting the Congress during his speech, a move that many believe reflects his reluctance to play second fiddle to the national party. The sharp criticism also contrasts with the conciliatory stance he adopted during last year's celebrations, when he had publicly spoken of making sacrifices for opposition unity.
His latest remarks have therefore fuelled speculation that the Goa Forward chief could be gradually moving towards an independent electoral strategy. While he stopped short of formally announcing such a course at his birthday celebrations, observers believe he may have chosen to keep that option on hold for now to avoid being perceived as the leader responsible for undermining opposition unity ahead of the crucial 2027 elections.
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Separate outreach drives raise questions about Oppn strategy
MARGAO: As Goa gears up for the next Assembly elections, two opposition parties have announced separate statewide yatras aimed at mobilising public opinion against the ruling BJP government.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Saturday unveiled the “Goem Rakhon Yatra”, which is expected to cover all 40 Assembly constituencies in an effort to rally Goans against the BJP. The campaign is likely to commence immediately.
Meanwhile, Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai used the occasion of his 56th birthday celebrations on Sunday to announce “Operation Vijai”, a statewide yatra that he said would expose the alleged misdeeds of the BJP government during its 15 years in power. The programme is expected to be launched after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in September.
While both yatras are aimed at building public sentiment against the BJP and strengthening the opposition's campaign ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, the parallel initiatives have also raised questions about opposition unity.
Political observers note that although the campaigns could help galvanise anti-incumbency sentiment and highlight issues facing the State, the decision by opposition parties to undertake separate mobilisation drives may prompt debate over whether a fragmented approach will advance their stated objective of dislodging the BJP from power in 2027.
Sources said the success of the two yatras may ultimately depend not only on their ability to connect with voters across Goa but also on whether the opposition can present a united front in the run-up to the next electoral battle.
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Congress says alliance future will be decided through talks
MARGAO: The Congress leadership on Monday appeared to send a firm message to Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai, indicating that political alliances cannot be taken for granted and must be decided through formal discussions rather than public declarations.
The development comes a day after politics dominated Sardesai’s birthday celebrations, where occasional remarks directed at the Congress sparked fresh speculation over the future of the alliance between the two parties.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar, who had called on Sardesai at his residence on Sunday to extend birthday greetings, stressed that decisions on alliances and other political matters are not made from public stages.
“Discussions on alliances and related issues are held across the table and not decided on stage,” Chodankar said, in what was widely seen as a message to the Goa Forward leadership.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao also extended belated birthday wishes to Sardesai but used the opportunity to underline the Goa Forward Party’s past political choices. In a remark, Alemao appeared to remind the public about parties that had aligned with the BJP in the past, an apparent reference to the GFP’s decision to support the BJP-led government following the 2017 Assembly elections.
On the question of a possible alliance or merger with the Goa Forward Party, a senior Congress leader said the party is likely to constitute a committee to deliberate on the matter before arriving at a decision.
Meanwhile, sources indicated that the Goa Forward Party may insist that any decision regarding the continuation of the alliance or a potential merger should be taken at the level of the Congress high command.
The exchange of signals from both sides comes amid growing political speculation over opposition unity ahead of future electoral battles in the State.