As the Goa Legislative Assembly convenes today for a 15-day monsoon session, what should have been a moment of strategic consolidation for the Opposition has instead turned into an exhibition of internal disarray. The cold war between two of Goa’s most vocal Opposition leaders—Congress MLA Yuri Alemao and Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai—has now cast a long, dismal shadow over the already fragile coalition of non-BJP legislators in the state.
With just seven Opposition MLAs in the 40-member House, one would assume that unity is not a luxury but a survival imperative. Yet, the behaviour of Goa’s Opposition reveals a different story—one of inflated egos, personal insecurities, and misaligned ambitions. While the BJP government walks into the session with brute numerical strength and political confidence, the so-called ‘united Opposition’ walks in fragmented, disjointed, and frankly, self-defeating.
The latest round of friction between Yuri and Vijai is not just about clashing personalities—it’s symbolic of the deeper malaise afflicting Goa’s Opposition bloc. For months, both leaders have taken veiled digs at each other through press statements, public forums, and social media. What began as ideological disagreements has now morphed into a full-blown turf war. There’s little evidence of coordination, zero joint strategizing, and absolutely no coherent narrative from the Opposition benches.
Ironically, both leaders claim to be working in the interest of Goemkars. Yet, their actions tell a different tale. Whether it is the recent tussle over who takes the lead in raising public issues or the absence of a common minimum agenda, this internal rivalry is only serving to strengthen the ruling party’s grip on the Assembly and public perception.
Consider this: The Assembly session comes at a time when Goa is grappling with serious issues—rampant illegalities in land deals, rising unemployment, the collapse of public infrastructure, and questionable tourism policies. These are bread-and-butter issues that should have been exploited by a well-organized Opposition. Instead, the session is likely to witness scattered interventions and parallel press conferences from Opposition leaders vying for individual relevance, rather than collective impact.
More alarmingly, the internal Opposition conflict is also killing the momentum of several people-led movements that had shown promise. Whether it’s environmental concerns, rising lawlessness, or economic distress, civil society movements need a legislative voice to amplify their concerns. But how can that happen when the Opposition itself is in a perpetual state of squabble?
The Congress party, still licking its wounds from the 2022 election and subsequent defections, seems incapable of asserting leadership among its own MLAs, let alone coordinating with allies. Meanwhile, Vijai Sardesai, who prides himself on his articulate oratory and firebrand image, appears more interested in political one-upmanship than alliance-building. And Yuri Alemao, while showing flashes of promise as a second-generation politician, seems to lack the maturity to build cross-party consensus.
One cannot help but recall the famous political adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” In Goa, however, the Opposition seems to think: “The enemy of my enemy is also my rival.”
If there was ever a moment for Goa’s Opposition to rise above petty politics and present a united front, it is now. The BJP’s policies are ripe for scrutiny. The public is hungry for accountability. The youth are disillusioned. Yet, all this potential is being squandered in internecine feuds and a complete lack of political vision.
The people of Goa did not elect these seven Opposition MLAs to simply checkmate each other. They were sent to the Assembly to question, to challenge, and to provide alternatives. If the current trend continues, the Opposition in Goa may soon become irrelevant not because of numbers, but because of their own self-inflicted wounds.
The Assembly session has just begun. There is still time to change course. But for that to happen, Yuri and Vijai—and their respective camps—must choose cooperation over competition. Goa deserves at least that much.
