Panaji: State Congress president Girish Chodankar said he has reached out to the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and AAP to initiate talks on a pre-poll alliance for the 2027 state assembly elections. He added that he will also approach the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) to discuss the possibility of an alliance.At the same time, Chodankar questioned AAP’s intentions, accusing the party of trying to make inroads into the Congress-held constituencies of Cuncolim and Quepem.“Mutual respect and sacrifice is important. AAP publicly says that there should be an alliance but then they are going and meeting religious leaders and offering money to them in Cuncolim and Quepem. I don’t understand them,” said Chodankar.He said that while Congress has refrained from targeting AAP, the latter has not shown similar restraint.“I called up Valmiki and I asked him whether he wants an alliance or not,” said Chodankar.AAP state president Valmiki Naik said the party has consistently maintained that an alliance is necessary to defeat the BJP. He said constituency-level differences can be resolved through discussions on seat sharing ahead of the elections.Chodankar said he met GFP president Vijai Sardesai and both leaders agreed to strengthen their existing alliance. He added that similar discussions are expected to be held with RGP national president Viresh Borkar.Chodankar chaired a meeting of the Congress executive committee on Monday, where office-bearers discussed the possibility of an alliance with AAP amid growing calls for opposition parties to unite.Responding indirectly to Chodankar’s remarks, AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said some parties were trying to create the impression that alliance talks were not progressing.“Giving press statements will not serve the purpose. As legislators, we are not going to speak against the opposition,” said Viegas.
