Panaji, Goa – The Goa Forward Party (GFP) announced on Wednesday that it has put its pre-poll alliance talks with the Congress on hold, citing a need to concentrate on strengthening its own organizational base across all 40 constituencies in Goa ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
GFP General Secretary Mohandas Lolienkar confirmed the decision, stating that waiting for an alliance to materialize often consumes valuable time that could be better spent on party building. "We want to focus on all 40 assembly constituencies. We will now take on the BJP government. We are not waiting for anyone," Lolienkar told reporters.
The announcement follows recent discussions between GFP President Vijai Sardesai and Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar regarding a potential pre-election coalition. Despite the suspension, Lolienkar clarified that the decision is not final and talks could resume at any time.
Congress Remains Open to Alliance
Reacting to the GFP's move, Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar expressed his party's continued commitment to uniting like-minded opposition parties. He emphasized that such an alliance is crucial for the welfare of Goa and its people, particularly to challenge the ruling BJP.
Looking Ahead to the 2027 Polls
The next Goa Assembly elections are anticipated before March 2027. In the previous 2022 elections, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party, securing 20 out of 40 seats with a 33.31% vote share. The Congress won 11 seats with 23.46% of the votes, while the GFP secured one seat and 1.84% of the vote share. Other smaller parties, including the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also made significant inroads in vote share.
The GFP's decision underscores a strategic shift to bolster its independent presence, aiming to improve upon its previous performance and potentially leverage its position in a fragmented political landscape.