MARGAO
Less than a week after his party stitched an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai on Thursday dropped clear hints that the party is open for a re-alignment considering the public sentiment on opposition unity.
Sardesai, however, said he and the regional party would not be cowed down by threats from the Congress after the principal opposition party had vowed to take him on in his home turf Fatorda.
Political observers say that Sardesai’s statement indicates that the regional party has still not closed all doors with its engagement with the principal opposition party, Congress.
Sardesai’s statement that the regional party would consider an alignment, if required, going by the public sentiment, however, assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal had gone on record stating that Goa First will be a non-BJP, non-Congress alliance.
“Elections are not coming tomorrow. We are open for a change. We are open for reforming ourselves if required and we are open for anything. What is required by the people of Goa will happen”, Sardesai told the media here on Thursday, sending clear indications that the regional party will go by the public sentiment that opposition parties must unite to defeat the BJP in the upcoming polls.
He, however, said that he would not be cowed down by threats from the principal opposition party. “I am ready to go by the public sentiment on opposition unity. But, that does not mean I will succumb to pressure. I have faced the joint venture in Fatorda in two elections officially. Don’t try to instil fear in me. We will not take any decision under pressure or threats. We can consider realignment of our position, but we will not do that under pressure or threats”.
Saying that the Goa First Alliance between AAP and GFP was floated to take on the BJP, Sardesai, however, said that the Congress has reacted with threats to contest against him in Fatorda.
“Our focus and target is BJP. our target is not opposition. We are targeting BJP and their misrule. Somehow, the Congress is trying to target me in Fatorda”, he said.
