Full Breakdown
Goa First: AAP and Goa Forward Party Form Pre-Poll Alliance for 2027 Assembly Elections
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Goa First Alliance Announced
On September 13 2026, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Goa and announced a pre-poll partnership with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) led by Vijai Sardesai. The bloc, named “Goa First,” is presented as a “non-BJP, non-Congress” alternative for the 2027 Legislative Assembly election, which must be held before March 2027. In the 40-member assembly, AAP holds two seats and GFP one.
Background & Context
The 2022 Goa election left the BJP as the single-largest party with 20 seats, Congress with 11. Defections from Congress to the BJP (eight in 2022 and ten earlier) have prompted calls for a united front. GFP, founded on January 25 2016, has shifted alliances: it partnered with Congress in 2022 and supported the BJP-led government in 2017-2019, with Sardesai serving as deputy chief minister until July 2019. AAP entered Goa politics five years ago, winning two seats in South Goa.
Key Figures & Groups
- Arvind Kejriwal – National convenor of AAP, former Delhi chief minister.
- Vijai Sardesai – President of GFP, former deputy chief minister of Goa.
- Girish Chodankar – State president of the Goa Congress, overseeing alliance talks with GFP.
Timeline
- January 25 2016 – GFP founded.
- 2022 – Assembly election results: BJP 20, Congress 11, AAP 2, GFP 1.
- September 13 2026 – Kejriwal lands in Goa and signals a major announcement.
Data & Statistics
- Assembly size: 40 seats.
- BJP seats (2022): 20 (50 %).
- Congress seats (2022): 11 (27.5 %).
- AAP seats (2022): 2 (5 %).
- GFP seats (2022): 1 (2.5 %).
Official Statements & Responses
Kejriwal framed the alliance as a response to “betrayals” by both major parties, asserting that voters have been “cheated twice” and need a third option. Sardesai said the alliance prioritises Goa’s interests and remains open to “like-minded secular forces.”
The Congress, through state president Girish Chodankar, disputed claims that talks had ended, stating that GFP continues dialogue with the party’s central leadership and that alliance discussions are ongoing.
Criticism & Opposition
Congress leaders argue that excluding the party from a broader opposition front weakens a unified challenge to the BJP. They warn that a fragmented opposition could benefit the incumbent government.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The people of Goa want a change. Goa First will form the government. We will win on our own,” — Arvind Kejriwal
- “It was important to form the alliance. We have formed the alliance with AAP where prioritisation of the interests of Goa is the focus,” — Vijai Sardesai
