GFP chief Vijai Sardesai addressing the gathering after the inauguration of the People’s Path in Fatorda.
MARGAO
Launching the People’s Path project at Old Market along with citizens on Saturday, Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai threw the ball in the Congress court, seeking clarity on the number of seats the principal Opposition party is willing to concede to the regional outfit for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Sardesai admitted that back-channel discussions were underway with like-minded parties to chalk out a strategy for the electoral battle.
He said he expected the Congress to spell out its stand on seat-sharing before Diwali, adding that he did not want prolonged negotiations over constituencies. “I don’t want to bargain over seats. Let the Congress tell us how many seats it would like to leave for the Goa Forward Party. We will respond with either an okay or a no,” he said.
Sardesai said the People’s Path initiative could serve as a platform to bring like-minded parties together, with a walk along the path potentially paving the way for an alliance.
“We are involved in back-channel talks with the Congress. We have conveyed our views to its leadership and underscored the need for everyone to come together. Last year, I took the initiative to bring leaders of like-minded parties together at the Shree Krishna Vijai Utsav, but that unity eventually turned into a prank. I am therefore hesitant to make any announcement this time,” he said.
He stressed that parties could not afford to delay preparations, with Assembly elections expected in February 2027. “We intend to start our door-to-door campaign after Diwali. If all like-minded parties believe in coming together, the next step is to take that unity forward,” he added.
Thanking the Tourism Department for sanctioning the project, Sardesai presented a report card of his term as Fatorda MLA. He said key works, including the Fatorda police station, power substation, and sewerage and water supply projects, were expected to be completed by December.
He said a mechanism was being put in place to involve Fatorda women in maintaining the pathway.
