MARGAO
As talks on forging an Opposition alliance for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections become increasingly uncertain, with leaders of various political parties locked in a war of words, the spotlight has once again shifted to Salcete — the taluka where eight Assembly seats are at stake and where the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) all enjoy varying degrees of influence.
The developments raise a crucial question: Can the Opposition realistically hope to dislodge the BJP from power if it fails to put up a united front, particularly in a politically significant region like Salcete?
Consider this: Talks between the Congress and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) to forge a pre-poll alliance for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections have hit a roadblock, raising fresh questions over the Opposition's ability to remain united against the BJP.
At the same time, prospects of an electoral understanding between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appear uncertain. Even before formal alliance discussions could begin, leaders of the two parties have been engaged in a public war of words, accusing each other of encroaching on their respective political turf and attempting to weaken each other's support base.
The situation is no clearer with the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP). While the Congress has kept channels of communication open with the regional outfit, uncertainty continues to prevail as the RGP remains embroiled in an internal leadership tussle, with rival factions vying for control of the party.
Opposition unity paid dividends
The uncertainty surrounding Opposition unity comes despite recent electoral evidence suggesting that a coordinated strategy could significantly improve the prospects of non-BJP parties, particularly in Salcete, a minority-dominated constituency traditionally regarded as the Congress' strongest political bastion.
This is evident in the 2022 Assembly elections, when the Congress, AAP and GFP together won six of the eight Assembly seats in Salcete. While the Congress secured only three seats, the AAP made a remarkable debut by winning two constituencies, both at the expense of the Congress, signalling a shift in the region's political landscape. The Goa Forward Party also retained its relevance by contributing to the Opposition tally when party chief Vijai Sardesai retained the Fatorda seat.
The benefits of Opposition unity became even more evident in subsequent elections. In the 2025 Zilla Panchayat elections, the Congress-GFP alliance swept Salcete by winning eight of the nine seats at stake. Of these, the Congress secured seven seats while the GFP won one, demonstrating the electoral advantage of avoiding a split in the anti-BJP vote.
Similarly, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress managed to retain the South Goa parliamentary constituency largely due to the support of INDIA bloc partners and public support. Congress candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes received the backing of both the Aam Aadmi Party and the Goa Forward Party, helping consolidate Opposition votes and preventing a division of the non-BJP electorate. The united campaign played a significant role in Fernandes' victory.
Split vote hurt Congress in 2022
In contrast, the 2022 Assembly election is particularly striking. Contesting separately, the Congress suffered one of its weakest performances in Salcete, managing to win only three of the eight Assembly constituencies. The disappointing result also contributed to the party falling short in the overall State tally.
For the Aam Aadmi Party, however, the election marked a political breakthrough. The party opened its account in Goa by winning two Assembly seats in Salcete, emerging as a serious contender in a region long dominated by the Congress.
Although the Revolutionary Goans Party failed to win a seat in Salcete during its electoral debut, its performance attracted considerable attention. The regional outfit polled significant votes in several minority-dominated constituencies, enough to influence the outcome in closely contested seats. Political observers believe the RGP's vote share adversely affected the Congress in multiple constituencies by splitting the anti-BJP vote.
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Why no Opposition party can ignore the alliance question
MARGAO: As political parties begin laying the groundwork for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, a set of critical questions is expected to dominate strategic discussions within the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Goa Forward Party (GFP).
At the heart of the debate is whether the Opposition parties can realistically challenge the ruling BJP if they choose to contest the elections independently rather than forge a pre-poll alliance.
For the Congress, the most pressing question is whether it can reclaim its traditional dominance in Salcete and restore its lost influence in other parts of the state without the support of like-minded Opposition parties. Once regarded as the party's impregnable bastion, Salcete has witnessed a gradual erosion of the Congress's electoral supremacy over the past decade, with regional parties and the AAP making significant inroads. Party strategists are expected to assess whether the Congress still enjoys enough grassroots support to regain its position on its own or whether a fragmented Opposition vote could once again benefit the BJP.
The AAP leadership, too, faces a crucial electoral test. The party will have to determine whether it can successfully defend its two Assembly seats — Benaulim and Velim — while simultaneously expanding its footprint by winning additional constituencies without entering into an electoral understanding with the Congress. Having emerged as a significant political force in Salcete in the last Assembly elections, AAP will need to evaluate whether it has consolidated enough support to withstand a multi-cornered contest.
The Goa Forward Party also finds itself at a strategic crossroads. Party president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai will have to grapple with the challenge of retaining his constituency for a fourth consecutive term if the Congress decides to mount an aggressive campaign to reclaim Fatorda, a seat where the BJP has maintained a strong organisational presence over the years.
