Panaji, Goa
A new political equation has emerged in Goa ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Goa Forward Party (GFP), led by Vijay Sardesai, have announced that they will join forces. The two parties have named their alliance ‘Goa First’.
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal described the alliance as an “real alternative” to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress for the people of Goa.
Announcing the alliance on social media platform X, Kejriwal said the people of Goa need a political system in which the state and its interests are given priority. The two parties are preparing to contest the upcoming Assembly elections together.
Kejriwal Targets BJP and Congress
Along with announcing the alliance, Arvind Kejriwal also targeted the BJP and Congress. He alleged that the two parties appear to be rivals during elections but their political equations change after the elections.
Kejriwal said the people of Goa had already been “betrayed” twice and would not allow it to happen for a third time. Referring to instances of political defections and developments related to government formation in Goa, he alleged that there had been an understanding between the BJP and Congress.
What Is the Goal of ‘Goa First’?
The central message of the new AAP-GFP alliance is to “put Goa first.” According to Kejriwal, the people of the state have long been choosing between the BJP and Congress, but they will now have a third political alternative.
He claimed that ‘Goa First’ was not formed merely to contest elections. Instead, the alliance aims to establish an honest, stable, and accountable government in Goa.
Congress Remains Outside the Alliance
For now, Congress has not been included in the ‘Goa First’ alliance. According to the available information, delays in discussions regarding an alliance with Congress and past developments involving Congress MLAs joining the BJP are among the major factors behind the decision.
However, AAP and GFP have not completely ruled out the possibility of cooperating with other parties in the future. The two parties have indicated that there remains scope for discussions with like-minded secular parties to defeat the BJP.
Impact Likely to Be Seen in 2027 Elections
The biggest challenge for the ‘Goa First’ alliance in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections will be to strengthen its organisation and establish itself among voters as an effective alternative to the BJP and Congress.
AAP has previously contested elections in Goa, while GFP has maintained a distinct identity in the state’s regional politics.
With the two parties now joining forces, the contest in the upcoming election could become more interesting. However, the alliance’s actual electoral strength will become clearer only after the candidates, seat-sharing arrangement, and election strategy are finalised.
