Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Kejriwal Says Congress Has Conceded Defeat in Punjab Polls
Arvind Kejriwal leads the Aam Aadmi Party.
His party joined with the Goa Forward Party for elections in Goa.
They call their partnership ‘Goa First.’
Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar criticized the partnership.
He said it might help the Bharatiya Janata Party in both Goa and Punjab.
Kejriwal replied that Congress had already accepted defeat in Punjab.
The AAP and GFP say they are an alternative to both major parties.
Elections in Goa and Punjab are expected in early 2027.
Arvind Kejriwal said Congress’s criticism showed it had conceded defeat in Punjab.
The Aam Aadmi Party and Goa Forward Party announced their ‘Goa First’ alliance on September 13.
Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar called the alliance an alleged “exchange offer” involving the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Chodankar said the alliance failed to meet Goa’s demand for a broader opposition grouping.
The AAP and GFP say they offer a non-BJP, non-Congress alternative and oppose political defections.
- Who
- The Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward Party, Arvind Kejriwal, and Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar.
- What
- Kejriwal defended the AAP-GFP alliance, while Chodankar accused it of benefiting the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- When
- The alliance was announced on September 13; Kejriwal responded on September 16. Assembly elections are due in early 2027.
- Where
- Goa and Punjab.
- Why
- The AAP and GFP say they want a non-BJP, non-Congress alternative; Congress says the alliance may serve the BJP’s interests.
AAP-GFP Position
Congress Position
Purpose of the alliance
AAP-GFP Position
The Aam Aadmi Party and Goa Forward Party present ‘Goa First’ as a non-BJP, non-Congress alternative for Goa.
Congress Position
Girish Chodankar says the alliance goes against the common aspirations of Goa’s people and that voters wanted a larger alliance.
Possible benefit to the BJP
AAP-GFP Position
Arvind Kejriwal focused on Congress’s criticism as evidence that it had conceded defeat in Punjab.
Congress Position
Chodankar alleged that the arrangement could involve BJP support for the AAP in Punjab and AAP support for the BJP in Goa.
Electoral prospects
AAP-GFP Position
The AAP and GFP say they will oppose political defections and compete as an alternative to the established parties.
Congress Position
Chodankar predicted that Goa’s voters would reject the alliance and called it the “last election” for both the AAP and GFP in the state.
- Alliance name
- ‘Goa First’
- Alliance members
- Aam Aadmi Party and Goa Forward Party
- Alliance announcement
- September 13
- Goa Congress criticism
- Girish Chodankar called the alliance an “exchange offer” involving the BJP.
- AAP response
- Arvind Kejriwal said Congress had conceded defeat in Punjab.
- Expected elections
- Assembly elections in Goa and Punjab are due in early 2027.
- Stated alliance position
- The AAP and GFP describe themselves as a non-BJP, non-Congress alternative and oppose political defections.