Panaji: Goa’s opposition politics has entered its favourite pre-election phase, when all pretenses of unity are dropped and effort is spent on slogan-friendly Instagram reels instead of marching through voters’ doors.The latest twist in Goa’s twisted politics is what looks like the AAP–Goa Forward Party marriage of convenience, branded “Goa First”, which has positioned itself as a non-BJP, non-Congress alternative.Congress, GFP’s spurned partner, has predictably not sent flowers and has responded with a rebound with the hot-blooded RGP.Both the alliances claim to provide voters a credible alternative against BJP, but have spent the better part of their honeymoon dissing their exes.GFP’s grouse is that Congress has forfeited the right to demand trust. Sardesai has repeatedly highlighted defections, arguing that voters cannot be certain Congress MLAs will remain Congress MLAs after the election. In the GFP’s telling, voting for Congress is not a political choice but a subscription with a cheating spouse.The social media battle reflects the parties’ larger electoral problem with platforms being used for quick accusations and counterattacks.“By betraying the aspirations of Goans who wanted a united front, AAP and GFP have handed the game to BJP. This feels like a clear exchange. AAP helps the BJP form the govt in Goa, while the BJP backs AAP in Punjab,” was state Congress president Girish Chodankar’s answer.AAP state president Valmiki Naik has taken Chodankar’s barb as an indication that Congress has given up hopes of winning the Punjab elections. “Looks like Congress has already given up in Punjab, since you are conceding that AAP is going to win. As for Goa, it is Congress MLAs who helped BJP form govt for the past two terms against the people’s mandate,” said Naik.On X and Facebook, these taunts have been converted into reels and posters, and the BJP has decided to stir the already stewing pot. For BJP, the two “forced alliances” are nothing but an indication of “failed leaders, desperately trying to save their political existence” in Goa.“Parties with no vision and no mission may come together. But the reality remains clear, Goa’s first choice will always remain BJP,” says the party handle on Facebook. Embroiled in their domestic disturbance, the AAP-GFP and Congress-RGP combine have not had time to respond.Congress’ predicament is particularly awkward. The party was still flirting with GFP when Sardesai chose to walk down the aisle with Arvind Kejriwal. Keen not to be seen alone at the altar of Goa’s turbulent politics, Congress extended its hand to RGP, which under its new president is still trying to find its feet. To make matters worse, Congress’ former president, Amit Patkar, is cavorting with GFP.The result is a political family photograph in which one relative has walked out, another is being invited in, and everyone insists the gathering is still united against the BJP.“When the head of a national party’s state unit chooses to target the most vocal opposition MLA instead of taking on the CM and BJP, it says everything about the party’s real intentions to protect Goa,” stated GFP’s social media handle, apparently oblivious that it was GFP which threw the first slipper at Congress.Chodankar claims that voters have “completely seen through this unholy alliance”, but political pundits say that this also applies to the Congress-RGP jodi. RGP offers the grand old party an infusion of youth and dynamism along with anti-establishment energy.The social media battle exposes the thin veneer of unity that the four parties had tried to project for the last two years. As Sardesai put it a few weeks earlier, elections are not won by sitting in air-conditioned rooms and certainly not by 15 second reels.AAP says it is credible, GFP says it is Goan, Congress says it is necessary, and RGP says it is revolutionary. The campaign is already underway, even though the election is months away.
