MARGAO
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has decided to escalate the controversy surrounding Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao’s claim that he had invited party chief Vijai Sardesai to Monday’s opposition meeting through WhatsApp. The party has convened an urgent meeting of its Political Affairs Committee on Wednesday to decide its course of action.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Sardesai said the party was treating the issue seriously, alleging that Alemao’s claim was an attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the image of an alliance partner.
“The matter is being viewed seriously by the party. Alemao’s claim that he had sent me a WhatsApp message to attend Monday’s meeting is false because no such message was received on any of my phones. This appears to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the integrity of an alliance partner. It is a serious matter, and the party’s Political Affairs Committee will take an appropriate decision on Wednesday,” Sardesai said.
He alleged that the incident reflected a “disturbing pattern” in Alemao’s conduct.
“The Leader of Opposition had earlier called me ‘Judas’. Now he claims he invited me to the meeting, but no message was ever received. This is an attempt to portray me as being against the opposition and to defame me. I am not afraid of him. For the last four-and-a-half years, I have consistently exposed the BJP and have the capacity to continue doing so over the remaining six months,” Sardesai said.
Asked whether the episode would strain the alliance between the Congress and Goa Forward, Sardesai said the alliance was with the Congress and not with Alemao personally.
“We are not in an alliance with Yuri; we are in an alliance with the Congress, keeping in mind the public sentiment that the opposition should remain united. Rahul Gandhi and I joined hands in 2022 when Yuri was not even in the picture. He became the Leader of Opposition by chance. He probably never imagined he would occupy that position. He got the opportunity only because of the wholesale defection of Congress MLAs,” Sardesai said.
Sardesai also said he would write to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who holds the Home portfolio, and the Director General of Police seeking an investigation into the mobile number from which Alemao claimed to have sent the WhatsApp message.
