MARGAO
Politics took the centre stage at the carnival festivities in Salcete, setting the tone for the 2027 Assembly elections.
In fact, the Carnival festivities across Salcete this year were marked as much by political signalling as by colour and celebration, with leaders from both the ruling and Opposition benches seizing the moment to connect with the electorate ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
With next year’s Carnival likely to coincide with the Assembly election schedule or the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, political players appeared keen to maximise visibility at what could be their last opportunity to publicly associate with the festivities on such a scale.
Even before official King Momo read out his traditional decree at the Margao Municipal Square on Sunday, the festive spirit had already been infused with political undertones.
Consider this: On Saturday, King Momo and his entourage participated in a mini-float parade and celebrations at Fatorda, organised by Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai.
The opening day of the Fatorda festivities saw leaders from the Congress and the Goa Forward Party sharing the stage and making a strong pitch for Opposition unity, with a clear message aimed at unseating the BJP-led government in the State.
Not to be outdone, the ruling dispensation made its presence felt in Margao on Sunday. Though Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was notably absent, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte travelled to the commercial capital to flag off the official Carnival float parade at Holy Spirit Square. He was joined by Margao MLA and PWD Minister Digambar Kamat, BJP state president Damu Naik, BJP ally Reginaldo Lourenco, and Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuemkar — a show of strength widely seen as signalling that the ruling alliance is firmly in campaign mode.
Across the Salcete coastal belt and its hinterland villages, reports poured in of politicians sponsoring and supporting local Carnival events, underscoring the high stakes. From grand float parades to village-level festivities, leaders from across the political spectrum left little to chance in their bid to remain visible and relevant.
As music, dance and satire filled the streets, the subtext was unmistakable: Carnival 2026 has effectively set the stage for the Assembly battle of 2027, with both sides using Goa’s biggest cultural celebration to test alliances, consolidate support and sharpen their electoral messaging.
