MARGAO
Amid the storm brewing over the opposition alliance, an eerie silence prevails at Goemkar Ghor—the imposing structure that houses the Goa Forward Party (GFP) headquarters at Dovondem bandh in Fatorda.
As a partner in the Goa First Alliance, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised a host of questions directed at the Goa Forward Party, including the central question of whether party chief Vijai Sardesai stands with the BJP-Congress “joint venture” or with the people of Goa.
So far, however, the party headquarters has maintained silence, with no official response forthcoming.
AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik’s assertion that it was made crystal clear and agreed upon with the Goa Forward Party from the outset that there would be no place for the Congress in the Goa First alliance has brought Sardesai under scrutiny.
This is particularly significant because, whether due to public backlash against the Goa First alliance or otherwise, Sardesai has repeatedly advocated a grand alliance of like-minded political parties, including the Congress. He has gone to the extent of stating that Goa First is a platform for all non-BJP opposition parties to unite and defeat the BJP at the hustings.
So far, the Goa Forward leadership has preferred not to react to the statements made by the AAP leadership, barring a comment from party general secretary Durgadas Kamat.
While Pitru Paksha is being cited as the reason for the party’s reluctance to issue political statements, sources say the regional party’s leadership will have to take a stand sooner rather than later on the question raised by AAP: does Sardesai stand with the BJP-Congress “joint venture” or with the people of Goa?
Political observers say that going by the recent statements directed at the Congress and the media briefing by the party leadership on Monday, AAP is prepared for any eventuality, including the possibility of the Goa Forward going with the Congress in the upcoming polls.
Naik’s statement that it was made clear and agreed upon from the beginning that the Congress would have no place in the Goa First Alliance, coupled with Sardesai’s own use of the term “hat-trick of defections” while targeting the Congress and his decision to suspend talks with the party, indicates that the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is prepared to take the political battle to the GFP camp as well.
The AAP and the GFP had stitched the Goa First alliance on September 13 with AAP national convenor Arvind Kejrival asserting the alliance of non-BJP and non-Congress parties has been formed to defeat the BJP in the 2027 Assembly election. Goa Forward chief Sardesai on the other hand, had joined hands with AAP to form the Goa First alliance after suspending talks with the Congress on the plea that the Congress will score a hat-trick of defections in 2027.
