VITHALDAS HEGDE
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PANJIM: If there is one clear lesson for opposition parties in Goa from the shock defeat of Mamata Banerjee’s party in West Bengal at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it is this: they have just one viable option to counter the BJP juggernaut — present a united front.
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It requires little analysis to see that parties such as the Congress, Goa Forward Party, Aam Aadmi Party and other like-minded anti-BJP forces must work towards a credible and workable pre-poll alliance.
Setting the tone, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said, “We have a pre-poll alliance with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and we will continue it for the next Assembly elections. But we can’t say about AAP because it has repeatedly made its stand clear that it will not go with the Congress. AAP was a partner of the INDIA bloc during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls but later changed its stand. A decision on forging a pre-poll alliance with like-minded parties will be taken by the High Command. We will submit our detailed ground report to the central party leadership before any such call is taken. Congress will not compromise on constituencies where it has a strong organisational presence and which have traditionally remained the party’s strongholds.”
Even as the Congress remains cautious, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has struck a more receptive note. State president Valmiki Naik indicated openness to a broader opposition understanding. “A pre-poll alliance of opposition parties is the need of the hour, and the Congress must restore the confidence of the people by assuring them that the kind of defections witnessed in the past will not be allowed to happen again.” Although Congress denied tickets to many defectors, new faces still switched sides, which created further distrust among voters, he added.
Looking ahead, Naik emphasised the need for clarity and scale. “The 2027 Assembly election must be fought in a manner that ensures a clear and decisive majority for the alliance partners. We are prepared to go with Congress if it seriously considers such an alliance because the highest probability of success lies in a united opposition. With a strong pre-poll understanding, the alliance can win nearly 30 seats and reduce the BJP to single digits, thereby ensuring a stable government for the next five years.”
He framed the issue as one that goes beyond electoral arithmetic. “This is not merely about changing the government but about changing the style of governance. We are open to seat sharing, but our larger objective is to do things differently from what the BJP has been doing. We want to assure the people that there will be firm action against rampant land conversions, rising law and order issues and anti-people policies. More importantly, we want to ensure that the next government remains stable and genuinely works for the welfare of the people.”
The BJP, meanwhile, appears energised by its Bengal triumph and dismissive of opposition calculations. The BJP is no doubt buoyed by the Bengal triumph and says it is good governance, rather than a divided opposition, that delivers impressive results for the party.
Echoing this confidence, BJP state president Damu Naik said, “People are voting for the BJP because of good governance. We achieved success in West Bengal after a 74-year struggle. West Bengal was ruled by the Communist-led Left Front for 34 years and by Mamata Banerjee for the last 15 years. But it was the worst government. It was politics of minority appeasement, particularly aimed at consolidating Muslim votes vis-à-vis illegal infiltrators. TMC wanted to change the demography of West Bengal. The BJP adopted a strategic plan to oust TMC dominance by instilling confidence among the voters.” He also defended the SIR exercise—dubbed by critics as being designed to benefit the BJP—saying it was intended to weed out illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Projecting confidence closer home, Naik ruled out any anti-incumbency factor in Goa. “People continue to have faith in the BJP because we deliver. There were protests during the ZP elections, yet we won. Similarly, during the CCP polls, citizens raised the issue of offshore casinos, but still reposed their trust in the BJP-backed panel. The people of Goa are educated and politically aware. What will they gain by voting for the Congress?” he asked.
Amid these competing narratives, regional players are also drawing their own cues. GFP president and MLA Vijai Sardesai expressed enthusiasm about the emergence of TVK in Tamil Nadu. “It gives us inspiration, encouragement and moral support for our own ‘vijay’ in Goa. Our ideology is similar. We are a regionalist party committed to the welfare of all sections of society. Every election in the country offers lessons for us to learn,” he said.
Yet, beneath the rhetoric, the political arithmetic in Goa tells a more complex story. The BJP is completing 15 years in power, but in the last two elections it failed to secure a majority on its own, relying instead on post-poll manoeuvres. In 2017, it was not even the single largest party. Against the backdrop of ongoing protests and visible public discontent, the appetite for change appears to be growing.
It is this sentiment that is fuelling calls for opposition unity. The demand for a pre-poll alliance reflects an emerging public mood, suggesting that parties opposed to the BJP may have little choice but to come together in deference to the electorate’s expectations.
Reinforcing this argument, Naik alleged that the BJP is manipulating voter rolls and denying the opposition a level playing field, making unity even more critical. “I strongly believe that all parties committed to protecting democracy and Goa’s future must stand together to defeat the BJP.”
AAP organising secretary Prashant Naik struck a similar chord while underlining flexibility. “We are preparing for the 2027 Assembly polls, but we will definitely go as per the wishes of the people. If the people of Goa want an alliance of opposition parties, we are open to it because we have seen that division of votes has only benefited the BJP.”
