Unity on everyone’s lips, but can Goa opposition unite ahead of 2027 polls?

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called for unity among Goan opposition parties, using the Konkani word 'Ekvott' during his recent visit to the state. The party aims to forge an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and regional outfits like the Goa Forward Party and the Revolutionary Goans Party to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the February 2027 assembly elections.

Kharge expressed optimism about potential alliances, stating, “In the coming elections, we need to all come together and fight together. They have all assured me that we will all fight together and win together. I’m happy that the Goa congress leaders will work together, courageously…” State Congress president Girish Chodankar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the public's demand for opposition unity and confirming ongoing talks with parties like the Revolutionary Goans Party and AAP.

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In the coming elections, we need to all come together and fight together. They have all assured me that we will all fight together and win together. I’m happy that the Goa congress leaders will work together, courageously…

The push for unity stems from the lessons of the 2022 assembly elections, where a five-cornered contest saw the opposition vote split. The BJP secured a majority by winning 20 seats in the 40-member House, despite often winning with less than 50% of the vote share. P Chidambaram, then Goa Congress in-charge, attributed the results to the opposition's fragmentation.

Civil society groups and activists, under banners like ‘Priority Goa’, have also demanded a united opposition to counter the BJP. They highlight that the BJP's victories are frequently a result of fragmented opposition votes, with the party often securing around 33% of the vote share while the remaining 67% is divided among multiple smaller parties. This has intensified the focus on forming a cohesive opposition bloc for the upcoming polls.

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It is the demand of the people that the opposition parties come together and we are trying to bring everyone together. We are still open to parties who are willing to take on the BJP. The people of Goa want everyone to come together to defeat the BJP. I have spoken to both leaders -- Viresh Borkar and Valmiki Naik -- talks with the two will progress over the next few days.