Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Goa Forward Party pauses alliance talks with Congress for now
A political party in Goa called the Goa Forward Party has decided to pause its talks with another party called the Congress.
The two parties were talking about joining forces for Goa's next state election, which is due before March 2027.
The party's general secretary, Mohandas Lolienkar, said they want to focus on all 40 areas of Goa instead of waiting for a deal.
He said the party now wants to take on the BJP government.
He also said the pause is only for now, and the talks could start again at any time.
The Congress leader in Goa, Girish Chodankar, wants all similar parties to work together to beat the BJP.
He said Congress will keep trying to bring opposition parties together for the welfare of Goa.
In the last Goa election in 2022, the BJP won 20 seats, the Congress won 11, and the Goa Forward Party won one seat.
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has suspended alliance talks with the Congress 'for the time being' ahead of the 2027 Goa assembly elections.
GFP general secretary Mohandas Lolienkar said the party wants to focus on all 40 constituencies and take on the BJP government.
Talks were initiated last week when GFP president Vijai Sardesai met Congress state head Girish Chodankar.
Lolienkar said the suspension is temporary, adding that talks could resume 'tomorrow, a week later, a month later or anytime.'
In the 2022 Goa polls, the BJP won 20 of 40 seats, the Congress 11, and the GFP one.
- Who
- Goa Forward Party (GFP) leaders, including general secretary Mohandas Lolienkar and president Vijai Sardesai, and Congress state head Girish Chodankar.
- What
- GFP suspended alliance talks with the Congress 'for the time being' for the 2027 Goa Legislative Assembly elections, saying it wants to focus on all 40 constituencies and take on the BJP government.
- When
- Announced on a Wednesday, days after talks were initiated last week; the Goa assembly elections are due before March 2027.
- Where
- Panaji, Goa, where the GFP's political affairs committee met.
- Why
- GFP says too much time is wasted waiting for a tie-up to materialise and it wants to focus on its strength in various constituencies instead.
Congress: Unite Like-Minded Parties to Defeat BJP
GFP: Focus on Party Strength, Don't Wait for Alliances
Alliance strategy
Congress: Unite Like-Minded Parties to Defeat BJP
Congress state head Girish Chodankar says all like-minded parties should come together to defeat the BJP, and Congress will keep making efforts to unite opposition parties for the welfare of Goa.
GFP: Focus on Party Strength, Don't Wait for Alliances
GFP argues that a lot of time is wasted waiting for a tie-up to materialise and the party fails to focus on its strength in various constituencies, so it wants to focus on all 40 constituencies.
Opposition leadership
Congress: Unite Like-Minded Parties to Defeat BJP
Congress says it will continue to bring opposition parties together against the BJP in the interest of Goa and its people.
GFP: Focus on Party Strength, Don't Wait for Alliances
GFP says it will take on the BJP government on its own and is not waiting for anyone, while leaving the door open to resume talks at any time.
- Parties involved
- Goa Forward Party (GFP), Congress, BJP
- Alliance status
- Suspended 'for the time being'
- Assembly seats
- 40 in Goa Legislative Assembly
- Election due
- Before March 2027
- 2022 poll results (of 40 seats)
- BJP 20, Congress 11, GFP 1
- GFP president
- Vijai Sardesai (Fatorda constituency)
- GFP general secretary
- Mohandas Lolienkar
- Congress state head
- Girish Chodankar