Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Jul 5: With the 2027 Goa Assembly elections approaching, political developments in the state indicate that both the ruling BJP and the Opposition are grappling with internal challenges, even as efforts to consolidate their respective positions gather pace.
The Congress is facing organisational turbulence following the return of Girish Chodankar as Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president. The emergence of a breakaway outfit, the Goa Congress Party, has intensified the crisis, with Chodankar alleging that it is a BJP-backed attempt to split the secular vote in Salcete.
Political observers, however, attribute the development to dissatisfaction among party leaders and ticket aspirants who feel sidelined following the leadership change. The situation has been further compounded by an open letter to AICC general secretary K C Venugopal questioning the absence of a second line of leadership and the party's failure to reconstitute its Political Affairs Committee since 2022.
The Revolutionary Goans Party, which had emerged as a significant third force by securing nearly 10 per cent of the vote in the 2022 Assembly elections, has also witnessed internal turmoil. Founder Manoj Parab's resignation and his public differences with the party's lone MLA, Viresh Borkar, have weakened the organisation.
Political analysts believe the party failed to establish a strong grassroots network after gaining prominence during the agitation against the controversial 39A highway project, raising concerns that its support base could shift to other political parties.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which contested the Zilla Panchayat elections independently in December 2025, has since softened its stance towards the Congress in Goa, signalling a willingness to cooperate despite political rivalry in several other states.
Meanwhile, the Goa Forward Party continues to remain largely centred around its leader Vijai Sardesai and the Fatorda constituency, with observers saying the party has struggled to expand its influence beyond its traditional base.
Political analysts also point out that the BJP is not immune to internal differences. In several constituencies in South Goa, sitting BJP MLAs are reportedly facing challenges from aspiring party leaders seeking election tickets.
Similar signs of discontent have emerged in North Goa. In Pernem, former minister Manohar 'Babu' Ajgaonkar is reportedly considering a return to the constituency, currently represented by BJP MLA Pravin Arlekar, potentially setting the stage for an internal contest.
In Ponda, preparations by BJP leader Ritesh Naik for the next Assembly election have coincided with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), a BJP ally, opening a party office in the constituency, a move that has reportedly caused unease among local BJP workers.
Political observers say that while the Opposition is attempting to forge unity ahead of the elections, the BJP is also working to address internal aspirations and maintain cohesion, making the political landscape ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls more competitive than it may initially appear.