When Goans came across hoardings bearing the logos of the Aam Aadmi Party and Goa Forward Party on major roads and highways over the weekend, the message was loud and clear — Goa First is taking shape on Goa’s political landscape. After days of speculation over the emergence of a third front, the first signs of the new political platform taking shape emerged on Saturday morning. The rest followed later in the day, after Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal took to social media to announce that he was heading to Goa to make a “big announcement”. Wait and watch, as both Kejriwal and Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai are expected to officially launch the front on Sunday.
New political front launch fuels speculation over Oppn unity
As AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai prepare to launch Goa First on Sunday, questions are already being raised over the nature of the new political platform. Will it be a conventional non-BJP, non-Congress third front? Or will it accommodate all like-minded opposition parties willing to take on the BJP government? Will the Arvind-Vijai duo invite the Congress to join the platform, or will the new combination have no place for the principal Opposition party and others? Wait and watch.
Festive-eve launch seen as bid to take its message into homes
What better time to launch a new political front in Goa than on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most popular and traditional festivals celebrated in the State? The reason appears simple. Goemkars not only welcome Ganapati Bappa into their homes, but families and communities also come together to celebrate the festivities. Proponents of the Goa First concept believe the celebrations could provide an opportunity for political discussions to take place in homes across Goa, with people sharing their views and offering feedback on the emerging political platform. Wait and watch.
Cong blames BJP for AAP-GFP hoardings, raises eyebrows
Guess the reaction of the Congress party to the hoardings bearing the logos of the Goa Forward Party and the Aam Aadmi Party seen on the National highways? Well, Goa Congress chief Girishbab Chodankar, in his inimitable style, sought to downplay the emerging political development. Whether as part of a strategy or otherwise, Girishbab instead trained his guns on the BJP, alleging that the saffron party was behind the hoardings. Interestingly, he appeared to spare both the Goa Forward Party and the Aam Aadmi Party — at least for the moment. Why? Wait and watch.
Yuri’s statewide yatra seeks to turn anti-BJP mood into votes
The road to success is never straight or easy. Eyeing power in 2027, Leader of Opposition Yuribab Alemao is bracing up to walk nearly 360 kilometres as part of the Congress’ Goem Rakhon Yatra, which kicks off on September 22. The yatra will take Yuribab and his dedicated band of Congress workers across all 40 constituencies. In the process, Yuribab hopes to awaken the people of Goa and urge them to come out and dislodge the BJP government and all those he believes are out to destroy Goa and its land resources. No prizes for guessing the reward that awaits Yuribab if the Congress returns to power in 2027.
