Goa Forward Party’s decision to suspend all alliance talks with its “big brother”, the Congress, has left many wondering about the real motive behind the move. No sooner had GFP leaders announced the decision than political circles began asking why the party had chosen to keep the talks on hold rather than call them off altogether. Is it because the GFP leadership has given the Congress high command time to initiate action against Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao? Or is the regional party merely trying to gain the upper hand before alliance negotiations resume? Many questions remain unanswered.
Girish plays down talks freeze, calls it GFP’s internal matter
Equally interesting was the reaction of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girishbab Chodankar to the Goa Forward Party’s decision to put alliance talks on hold. Girishbab maintained that the decision was an internal matter of the GFP. Political observers, however, were quick to point out that the decision is not confined to the regional party alone, as it directly impacts the Congress’ prospects of forging a pre-poll alliance with its potential partner. Or has the Congress chief decided that the principal Opposition party will not bow to pressure from like-minded parties if they choose to make independent political decisions ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections? Any questions?
Goa Forward’s credibility question resurfaces amid alliance talks
When Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai came out with the argument that the regional party may not be inclined to do business with the Congress because of its back-to-back defections in 2019 and 2022, he was confronted with an uncomfortable question on social media. What about Goa Forward’s own decision to join hands with the BJP-led government under the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in 2017, despite the people of Goa denying the saffron party a clear mandate and giving the Congress and like-minded parties the numbers to stake claim to power? That question continues to haunt the regional party. Any questions?
The missing WhatsApp message that keeps raising questions
The mystery surrounding the “mobile number” through which Leader of Opposition Yuribab Alemao allegedly WhatsApped the meeting message to Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai continues to deepen. Yuribab maintains that he sent the message to one of Vijaibab’s mobile numbers. Vijaibab, for his part, admits that he and his office use multiple mobile phones with similar numbers. However, he insists that none of his mobile numbers has received Yuribab’s message to date, throwing up a challenge to the Opposition leader to place the mysterious mobile number in the public domain. Will the Opposition leader accept the gauntlet? Wait and watch.
Midnight outreach sparks third front speculation
Amid the claims and counterclaims between Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao and Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai over the controversial invitation to the meeting of Opposition MLAs, Vijaibab is learnt to have received a midnight call from a senior Aam Aadmi Party leader. The AAP leader reportedly suggested that the two parties make common cause and join hands to jointly fight the upcoming Assembly elections. What transpired between the two leaders remains unknown, but sources, however, wonder whether there’s any attempt to bring non-Congress Opposition parties to form a third front. Any questions?
