Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 6: A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asked its new ally Goa Forward Party (GFP) to clarify its commitment to the ‘Goa First’ alliance, GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai signalled openness to a broader Grand Alliance involving the Congress and other like-minded parties to take on the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections.

The development comes amid reports of GFP-AAP hoardings carrying the message, “Congress & BJP cheated you twice. Don’t let them cheat you the third time,” disappearing from various locations across Goa. Reacting to the removal of the banners, Sardesai said, “Maybe a new banner which Goans want will come.”

Sardesai said political parties must respond to the expectations of voters, drawing a parallel between consumers in an economy and voters in a democracy.

“In an economy, the consumer is king and likewise, in a democracy, the voter is king,” he said.

Backing the possibility of a Grand Alliance, Sardesai said Goans want opposition parties to come together against the BJP and warned that political leaders could face the voters’ response if they fail to act according to public expectations.

“If we don’t do what people want, they will teach us a lesson,” Sardesai said.

He said political leaders should sit together and work towards taking Goa forward, while stressing the need to keep the focus on the state rather than developments in Delhi or elsewhere.

“Goans want us to come together for rice-curry. I don’t know where this kachori-samosa came from,” Sardesai said.

On talks with the Congress, Sardesai said discussions had begun and efforts were moving towards opposition unity.

“I don’t want the Delhi politics impact to come to Goa,” he said.

Meanwhile, the AAP has hardened its stance, saying it stands with the people of Goa and not with the BJP-Congress “Joint Venture”. The party reiterated that its ‘Goa First’ platform is a non-BJP, non-Congress platform.