PANAJI
On a day when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders gathered at the office of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas to mark the party’s Foundation Day, State President Amit Palekar made a sudden dash to Delhi, fueling speculation of significant political developments in Goa.
Speaking to reporters at Dabolim airport before his departure, Palekar said he was heading to the national capital to hold discussions with the party’s central leadership. He hinted that “interesting developments” could unfold in the next three to four days, though he stopped short of offering details.
Palekar’s visit comes close on the heels of Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) president Manoj Parab and its lone MLA Viresh Borkar returning from Delhi on Tuesday, after reportedly meeting with political stakeholders.
Their trip had sparked talk of a possible tie‘up between AAP and RGP, two parties that have positioned themselves as alternatives to the ruling BJP and the Congress in Goa.
When asked directly about the RGP’s overtures and the possibility of an alliance, Palekar declined to comment, saying it was not the right moment to speak on the matter.
However, he stressed that AAP’s decisions would be guided by Goa’s interests. “We don’t have adversaries in the Revolutionary Goans Party. Goa is our centre point, and we will do everything to defeat the BJP in Goa,” he said.
Both AAP and RGP are relatively newbies on Goa’s political stage and made inroads among sections of Goan voters, particularly the youth and those disillusioned with the traditional parties. An alliance between the two could potentially reshape the opposition landscape, consolidating their support base and posing a stronger challenge.
The timing of Palekar’s Delhi visit, coinciding with AAP’s Foundation Day celebrations in Goa, has added to the intrigue. Top local leaders, including Velim MLA Cruz Silva and several party volunteers had gathered at Viegas’s office in Benaulim to mark the occasion.
Political sources said, AAP’s central leadership may be weighing strategies to expand its footprint in Goa, where the party has sought to establish itself as a credible force since its entry into Goa’s political arena in 2017. RGP, meanwhile, has built its identity around regional pride and safeguarding Goan interests, making a potential partnership with AAP both surprising and strategically significant.
For now, both parties remain tight‘lipped, leaving the political buzz to swirl. Whether Palekar’s Delhi visit results in a formal alliance or remains exploratory will likely become clearer in the coming days.
