PANAJI: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday announced that it has suspended discussions with the Congress on a pre-poll alliance for the 2027 Assembly elections, accusing Congress leaders of repeatedly targeting party president Vijai Sardesai and attempting to portray him as uncooperative within the Opposition.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC), which also resolved to strengthen the party's organisation across all 40 Assembly constituencies through constituency tours, fresh inductions and a statewide yatra.
Addressing a press conference after the PAC meeting, GFP General Secretary Mohandas Lolienkar alleged that a false narrative was deliberately created over Sardesai's absence from a recent Opposition legislators' meeting.
"A false narrative was deliberately created to portray our President Vijai Sardesai as someone who is not cooperating with the Opposition. This was not an honest mistake. It was done intentionally, and our Political Affairs Committee is extremely upset," Lolienkar said.
He said the GFP had spent the last two years trying to unite the Opposition to defeat the BJP but had instead faced repeated allegations and attempts to undermine the party.
"Every time alliance talks move forward, false claims are made against our President. We cannot continue like this," he said.
Lolienkar clarified that the GFP had not broken its alliance with the Congress, but had only suspended discussions on seat-sharing and electoral strategy until further notice.
"We have suspended the talks for now because elections are still some time away. Our priority is to strengthen our own party. We will spend the next month and a half on the ground assessing public sentiment before deciding our future course," he said.
He added that the party would review its position after assessing both public response and the Congress' reaction.
GFP Joint Secretary Vikas Bhagat said repeated attempts to target the party had forced the PAC to halt alliance discussions and focus entirely on organisational expansion.
"Every time alliance talks begin, our party's growth comes to a standstill. We have decided not to become victims of such politics anymore," Bhagat said.
He announced that Sardesai would begin a one-day tour of his constituency before the party launches a statewide yatra covering all 40 Assembly constituencies.
The outreach programme will begin with the five constituencies in the Kushavati region, Sanguem, Sanvordem, Curchorem, Quepem and Canacona, before the upcoming Assembly session. It will later cover Salcete, Mormugao, Ponda and the constituencies across North Goa.
Bhagat said the party would induct new youth leaders and office-bearers across all constituencies while engaging with women, farmers and young people to raise their issues in the Assembly.
Responding to questions on allegations made by Congress leaders, including LoP Yuri Alemao, Bhagat said Sardesai had already clarified his position by producing message records from all three of his mobile numbers.
"Our President has given a clear explanation. It is now for Congress to clarify what actually happened. Until then, we will focus on growing our party," Bhagat said.
Lolienkar reiterated that defeating the BJP remained the GFP's central objective despite the suspension of alliance talks.
"Our ultimate goal is to defeat the BJP and its government. We will not take any decision that benefits the BJP. We are only suspending the talks, not ending them permanently. If the situation improves, discussions can resume," he said.
He added that the upcoming yatra would also help the party assess its strength across Goa and determine its position on any future seat-sharing arrangement.
Speaking to reporters after the PAC meeting, GFP President Vijai Sardesai said he was tired of the uncertainty surrounding opposition alliance discussions.
"I am tired of this uncertainty. One day the alliance talks move forward, the next day they come to a halt. We cannot keep functioning like this," Sardesai said.
Reiterating that defeating the BJP remained the GFP's foremost objective, Sardesai said suspending alliance talks did not mean the party was abandoning the larger Opposition cause.
"We will take our fight to the people and intensify our agitation against this government. Our immediate priority is to build the party across Goa while continuing to expose the failures of the BJP government," Sardesai said.
