The Congress party in Goa has taken the first formal step towards the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections, announcing its initial list of candidates. This move, however, has cast a shadow over its proposed alliance with regional partners, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP). The elections for the local self-government bodies are scheduled for December 20.
Congress Plays Safe, Announces 11 Names
On Tuesday, the state Congress unit unveiled its first list, fielding candidates only in constituencies where it faces no immediate dispute with its potential allies. The list features seven candidates for North Goa and four for South Goa.
For the North Goa zilla panchayat, the party has nominated Carmelina Fernandes from Calangute, Sahil Mandrekar from Socorro, Sonal Malvankar from Reis Magos, Viju Diukar from Taleigao, Shejal Kalangutkar from Chimbel, Bhanudas Somnaik from Pale, and Ayush Kerkar from Keri.
In South Goa, the candidates announced are Manisha Usgaonkar (Usgao-Ganjem), Julio Fernandes (Velim), Alexinho Da Silva (Curtorim), and Rajendra Shirodkar (Sanvordem).
State Congress president Amit Patkar clarified the party's strategy, stating that candidates were declared only for seats with no disagreement among alliance partners. He indicated that overlapping claims would be settled through further negotiations. Political observers interpret this cautious approach to mean that talks are still pending for nearly 40 out of the 50 ZP constituencies.
Alliance in Trouble? Partners React with Shock and Hope
The unilateral announcement by Congress has elicited strong and mixed reactions from its regional allies, putting the proposed united opposition front against the BJP in jeopardy.
Manoj Parab, a leader of the RGP, expressed outright shock. He revealed that alliance discussions were still ongoing and that Congress was expected to respond to certain conditions set by his party. "We were told the list will be released jointly. If Congress has declared its list unilaterally, this is shocking for us," Parab told reporters, terming the development as "shocking news."
In contrast, Vijai Sardesai, president of the GFP, adopted a more hopeful tone. He speculated that Congress might have announced candidates only for seats where others had not staked a claim. Sardesai reminded everyone of the existing alliance with Congress from the 2022 state assembly polls and expressed confidence that ties were not severed. "My talks with Congress are still on. I'm quite confident something good will come out of this," he stated, adding that the GFP's candidate list would be released on Thursday.
Strategic Omissions and the Road Ahead
A closer look at the Congress list reveals a strategic selection. In North Goa, the party has focused on its traditional strongholds like Calangute, Socorro, and Reis Magos, while avoiding several other segments. The South Goa list is notably brief, with most constituencies in the influential Salcete taluka missing. The GFP has already laid claim to Raia and Davorlim in Salcete, areas where Congress also holds sway.
This development stands in contrast to the declaration made last month by opposition leader Yuri Alemao, who had stated that Congress, RGP, and GFP would contest together under a unified front. The current scenario suggests the ground reality is more complex.
With the election date drawing near, the opposition's ability to present a cohesive alternative to the BJP now hinges on swift and successful negotiations. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the alliance solidifies or fragments further.
