A sharp political conflict has erupted in Goa between the Congress and the relatively new party, Revolutionary Goans (RG), following the recent zilla panchayat elections. The war of words, marked by serious allegations and counter-claims, underscores the shifting political dynamics in the state.
Congress Launches Stinging Attack on Revolutionary Goans
On Sunday, Nitin Chopdekar, the chairman of the Congress's OBC cell, issued a strongly-worded press note. He directly accused the Revolutionary Goans party of functioning as a 'B-Team of the BJP'. Chopdekar alleged that RG was essentially created with the purpose of splitting secular and opposition votes, thereby indirectly aiding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
This accusation from the Congress functionary is seen as a direct retort to a recent statement made by RG president Manoj Parab. Parab had declared that his party would not engage in any alliance discussions with the Congress for the crucial 2027 assembly elections as long as Amit Patkar remains the state president of the Goa Congress.
Roots of the Rift: Seat Sharing and Alleged Coordination
Manoj Parab blamed Congress leader Amit Patkar for the breakdown of seat-sharing talks during the zilla panchayat elections. He specifically alleged that the Congress leadership refused to concede the Santa Cruz seat to RG, a seat which the Revolutionary Goans eventually won on their own strength.
Responding fiercely, Nitin Chopdekar dismissed Parab's stance, asking, "Who is Manoj Parab to lecture Congress?" To bolster his accusation of RG being a BJP proxy, Chopdekar pointed to the Anjuna ZP seat. He claimed that RG's candidate entering the fray led to the defeat of 'bahujan samaj leader' Yogesh Govekar, which ultimately benefited the BJP candidate.
Chopdekar further alleged that Parab's frequent visits to Mumbai to meet Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde exposed a "backchannel coordination" with the BJP-led alliance at the national level. The Congress leader issued a clear warning, stating, "Congress does not need lessons from BJP proxies."
RG's Rising Clout and the Political Implications
The backdrop of this bitter exchange is the notable performance of the Revolutionary Goans in the zilla panchayat polls. RG emerged as the third-largest vote-getter in these elections, surpassing established parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Goa Forward Party (GFP), and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).
Political observers have taken note that RG secured approximately 10% of the vote share in the ZP polls. This significant showing has led many to acknowledge it as a credible and emerging alternative political force in Goa's landscape, one that can influence electoral outcomes by fragmenting traditional vote banks.
The public spat highlights the intense recalibration happening within Goa's opposition space. With the Congress attempting to consolidate its position as the principal opposition and RG asserting its independent identity and growing influence, the road to the 2027 assembly elections appears set for complex negotiations and heightened tensions.
