MARGAO
As the two-day Ganesh Chaturthi festivitiesdrew to a close, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwaldeparted for Delhi, having successfully stitched an alliance with the regionalGoa Forward Party (GFP).
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai also returnedhome after hosting Team AAP, including Kejriwal and Atishi Marlena, at hisancestral home in Savoi-Verem during the celebrations.
The two parties must be anticipating feedbackfrom the Goa populace on the alliance, formed under the banner of "GoaFirst", to present a united front and offer an alternative politicaloption in the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections.
However, critical details regardingseat-sharing arrangements and leadership roles are still not in the open – howmany seats will the two parties contest and whether they are waiting forsmaller parties and splinter groups to tie up with Goa First; whether Goa Firstwill project a Chief Ministerial face in the upcoming polls, et al.
The ground reality, however, shows that theAam Aadmi Party may seek a major share of the seats in minority-dominatedSalcete – where as many as eight seats are at stake. And the reason is not farto seek. Unlike the Goa Forward Party, which had hardly expanded its party basein Salcete outside Fatorda, the home turf of party chief Vijai Sardesai, theAam Aadmi Party has its presence felt across Salcete, but outside as well.
Having secured victories in Velim and Benaulimin the 2022 elections, the party has been actively consolidating its presencein Curtorim and Nuvem as well.
While the Goa Forward Chief will seekre-election from home turf Fatorda to play a fourth innings in the GoaLegislative Assembly, how the Goa First alliance will distribute seats inMargao, Navelim and Cuncolim remains uncertain. These areas are crucialbattlegrounds, with Sardesai exerting pockets of influence.
Notably, Cuncolim is presently represented byLeader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, raising questions about which party willspearhead the Goa First campaign there.
