By Irfan Iqbal Gheta
The political landscape in Goa remains as volatile as ever. With preparations for the 2027 Goa Assembly Elections already underway, parties are jostling for space, visibility, and relevance. In this high-stakes atmosphere, brand recall matters — and every party knows it. Different parties. Different challenges. Different strategies.
Yet, amid the noise and manoeuvring, an incident this week has left political observers scratching their heads.
The grand old party — still struggling to gain traction — has not yet found an emotional or ideological touchpoint that truly resonates with Goemkars. It is desperately seeking a narrative that can form the foundation of its 2027 campaign.
What will be the key planks of this make-or-break election? Can the opposition, presumably led by the grand old party, unite in time? And what will it take to regain the trust of the people? These are not just rhetorical musings — they are questions that define the political moment.
Meanwhile, an incident involving the party’s Aldona MLA has stirred up a storm — and not the kind the party needed.
On the same day that the party had organised a “Save the Constitution of India” programme in the constituency of a former minister from the ruling party, the Aldona MLA chose to attend that very minister’s birthday celebration — skipping his own party’s event, despite being in the same area.
This seemingly innocuous act has triggered a controversy. The party’s state president has fired off a strongly worded letter — now conveniently leaked to the media — urging the High Command to initiate disciplinary action against the MLA.
Caught in the crossfire, the MLA claims the issue is being blown out of proportion. A simple phone call, he says, could have resolved any misunderstanding. Was such a harsh public response — and an appeal for disciplinary action — truly necessary?
In political terms, the optics are damaging. The MLA may have handled the media with composure, calling the episode “unfortunate” and subtly blaming the ruling party for fuelling internal discord. But among the party’s supporters, questions are being asked: Is everything alright within the grand old party?
Why was this letter selectively leaked to the media? Why the demand for disciplinary action, when internal dialogue could have sufficed? Are these cracks within the party — or a smokescreen to distract from deeper, more pressing issues?
Only time will tell whether this episode was a momentary slip, or a symptom of something more serious.
