AAP-GFP alliance bets on ‘Goa First’ to challenge BJP, Congress

A day after announcing their pre-poll alliance for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal visited the ancestral home of Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai during Ganesh Chaturthi, underlining the partners’ effort to build a political alternative to both the BJP and Congress.

The two parties on Sunday launched “Goa First”, positioning the alliance as a non-BJP, non-Congress front for voters dissatisfied with the established parties. Kejriwal said the alliance had been launched with the blessings of Lord Ganesh and described it as a “credible and loyal option” for people seeking an alternative.

A key theme of the alliance is likely to be political defections, which both leaders have criticised as a recurring problem in Goa. Sardesai said they had sought Lord Ganesh’s blessings to ensure that defections do not happen again, arguing that voters’ mandates must be respected.

The alliance is also expected to focus on issues affecting everyday life, including jobs for Goan youth, protection of land and local identity, environmental conservation and sustainable tourism. Better roads, water supply, electricity, civic infrastructure and government services could also feature prominently in its campaign.

AAP is likely to bring its emphasis on governance, transparency and anti-corruption, while the GFP can strengthen the alliance’s regional and “Goa-first” identity. The partners are yet to finalise seat sharing and are expected to begin discussions soon.

With the 2027 polls still months away, the alliance faces the challenge of converting dissatisfaction with BJP and Congress into votes while expanding beyond the parties’ existing pockets of support. Its central pitch is likely to be simple: protect Goa’s interests and protect the voter’s mandate.