PANAJI
The much-talked-about “grand alliance” involving the Congress, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections has collapsed, just a day before the nomination deadline. With the RGP declaring that it will contest the elections on its own, weeks of negotiations have now formally come to an end.
The decision has forced the Congress and GFP to recalibrate their electoral approach as the nomination window nears closure. According to party sources, GFP is expected to field candidates in eight constituencies, while Congress will put up nominees in 42 seats under their bilateral alliance. The Congress has already finalised and announced candidates for 22 constituencies.
GPCC Senior Vice President M K Shaikh confirmed the development on Monday, revealing that the RGP had turned down the Congress’ revised proposal.
“Discussions were ongoing, and we had submitted a counter-proposal to the RGP that extended beyond mere seat-sharing. However, after internal consultations, the RGP leadership conveyed that they would not proceed with the alliance,” Shaikh told reporters.
He added that the message was communicated over a phone call on Sunday afternoon by the RGP chief, who made it clear that the party did not accept the Congress’ terms.
With RGP walking out, Congress will now move ahead solely with GFP, with whom the seat-sharing arrangement has already been ironed out. On Monday, the GFP officially filed its nomination for the Cumbharjua ZP seat.
The Congress has announced its Zilla Panchayat candidates for 22 constituencies so far. In North Goa, its nominees are contesting from Aldona, Penha-de-France, St Cruz, Honda, Calangute, Socorro, Reis Magos, Taleigao, Chimbel, Pale and Querim.
In South Goa, the party is contesting from Curti, Guirodlim, Xeldem, Barcem, Cola, Sancoale, Cortalim, Usgao-Ganje, Velim, Curtorim and Sanvordem.
The ZP Polls are scheduled on December 20 while counting will take place on December 22.
Meanwhile, GPCC president Amit Patkar announced that a joint press conference with alliance partners will be held on Tuesday, immediately after filing all remaining nominations.
He, however, declined to reveal the names of the alliance parties, stating that the announcement will be made only after the filing process is completed.
Patkar’s latest statement has triggered fresh political speculation as parties enter the final hours of the nomination window.
