In an exclusive conversation, former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena opens up about AAP’s renewed push in Goa ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. From rejecting alliances with the Congress to accusing both major parties of turning Goa into a “family fiefdom,” Atishi says AAP’s mission is to give ordinary Goans a voice in governance. Speaking to Editor Suraj Nandrekar, she discusses defections, corruption, and why AAP believes it can finally break Goa’s cycle of political betrayal.
Suraj Nandrekar: Ms Atishi, welcome back to Goa. How does it feel returning here after a while, this time as AAP’s face for the 2027 campaign?
Atishi Marlena: Goa is honestly one of the most beautiful places in India -perhaps in the world. Every time I’m here, it’s a reminder of what real natural beauty looks like. People outside Goa think only of beaches, but there’s so much more: the rivers, forests, temples, churches, and the mountains. Yet beneath that beauty, there’s a sadness—because Goa’s people are struggling. Thirteen years of BJP rule have left the state with gang wars, corruption, unemployment, and broken infrastructure. People here deserve better, and that’s what brings me back.
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Suraj Nandrekar. AAP is often seen as a vote-splitter in Goa’s politics. How do you respond to that perception?
Atishi: It’s interesting that AAP is accused of splitting votes, while some parties are proven to be the BJP’s MLA bank. If you look across the country, there’s only one party that consistently fights the BJP, and that’s the Aam Aadmi Party. Which other party has its leaders jailed for standing up to the BJP? In Gujarat, Delhi, and now in Goa, it’s AAP that’s taking the BJP head-on. We are not here to split votes; we are here to split power from corruption.
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Suraj Nandrekar. If AAP truly wants to defeat the BJP, why is it not exploring an alliance with the Congress?
Atishi: Let me ask you a simple question. What guarantee can the Congress give to the people of Goa that its MLAs will not defect to the BJP after winning? Look at what happened in 2017: Congress got 17 seats, but within two years, 10 MLAs joined the BJP. In 2022, Congress got 11 seats; today, only three remain. Even Congress’s own former MP, Francisco Sardinha, has admitted publicly that many Congress MLAs will switch sides again after 2027. How can you build an alliance on such a shaky foundation?
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Suraj Nandrekar. Is AAP’s distance only from the Congress, or does it also extend to regional parties in Goa?
Atishi: We are ready to work with people, not with parties that have repeatedly betrayed voters. Whether regional or national, the question is: are they truly willing to fight the BJP, or are they merely waiting to join the next government? In Goa, alliances have historically meant post-poll bargains, not principles. AAP will stand with any honest Goan who wants change, but not with political families who treat power as their inheritance.
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Suraj Nandrekar. Goans are already disillusioned with both the BJP and the Congress. What makes AAP think people want another national party?
Atishi: That’s a fair question, but look closely at Goa’s politics—it isn’t about national or regional labels. Goa is controlled by roughly 14 families who move between parties depending on who’s in power. You’ll find the same surnames, Rane, Lobo, Monserrate, Alemao , across the BJP, Congress, and so-called regional fronts. AAP is different. Our two MLAs, Capt Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, come from ordinary families. They had neither money nor a political legacy. We want to give governance back to common Goans, not dynasties.
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Suraj Nandrekar. Given Goa’s fragmented opposition, don’t you think a united front is essential to challenge the BJP effectively?
Atishi: Unity sounds good on paper, but let’s look at the arithmetic. Suppose a Congress-AAP alliance wins 24 seats, 14 for Congress, 10 for AAP. What happens the next morning? If history is any guide, at least 10 Congress MLAs will cross over to the BJP, and that “united front” collapses. So yes, a united opposition is desirable, but only if it’s built on integrity. Goa doesn’t just need arithmetic—it needs trust.
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Suraj Nandrekar. The Congress has accused Arvind Kejriwal of visiting Goa to weaken its base rather than take on the BJP. How do you view this charge?
Atishi: That accusation is both amusing and ironic. There’s hardly any difference between Congress and the BJP in Goa today. The same leaders move between them. Remember the mining scam that Manohar Parrikar once exposed as the Opposition leader? The key accused was Digambar Kamat—now a BJP minister with a clean chit. Another was Mauvin Godinho, also now a BJP minister. So tell me, where is the difference? Goa’s real battle is not between BJP and Congress—it’s between a handful of political families and the ordinary Goan.
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Suraj Nandrekar. Does AAP have a full slate of 40 credible candidates ready to contest in Goa?
Atishi: We are building towards that, but our focus is not just on numbers. Our goal is to find people rooted in their communities—teachers, small entrepreneurs, youth leaders—people who understand local issues. We are here to defeat the BJP and transform governance, not just fill a ballot sheet. When the time comes, every candidate we field will reflect that spirit.
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Suraj Nandrekar. Several leaders have recently quit AAP in Goa. What’s causing this exodus?
Atishi: In politics, people come and go—that’s normal. But yes, some who left wanted an alliance with Congress, which we have clearly ruled out. AAP will not compromise with parties that helped the BJP retain power through defections. On the other hand, we’ve seen a steady inflow of honest citizens—former sarpanches, youth, women—joining us from both Congress and BJP. Just last week, a group of 15 women in Savoidem joined AAP because they’re fed up with corruption and nepotism. That tells you where public sentiment truly lies.
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Suraj Nandrekar. AAP continues to allege large-scale corruption by the BJP in Goa, but critics point out that your own party faces allegations in the Delhi liquor case. How do you address this contradiction?
Atishi: The so-called “liquor scam” is the most curious corruption case in India’s history—because despite years of investigation, no one has found even a single rupee, no benami property, no shell company, nothing. In all the raids, not one note or gold biscuit was shown on camera. It’s clear that these are political cases designed to silence those who challenge the BJP.
Now compare that with Goa, where corruption touches every household. Ask anyone whose house bifurcation was done how much they had to pay for a water connection. Ask a street vendor in Panjim what it costs to get a trade licence. From top to bottom, everything has a rate. Even a former BJP minister admitted publicly that he had to pay 15–20 lakh to get work done—and he was immediately dropped from the cabinet. That’s the difference: BJP’s corruption is visible and lived by every Goan; AAP’s so-called corruption exists only in case files.
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Suraj Nandrekar: Many Goans say the state is tired of political families and wants fresh faces. Do you think AAP can truly replace that old order?
Atishi Marlena: Absolutely. Goa’s youth deserve a chance. Why should only the sons, daughters, and wives of sitting MLAs get tickets? Why can’t an engineer, a teacher, a taxi driver’s son contest an election? That’s the change AAP represents. We’re here so that Goa’s resources, land, and opportunities benefit Goans—not a few elite families.
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Suraj Nandrekar: Thank you, Ms Atishi, for joining us and answering those questions so candidly.
Atishi Marlena: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure talking to Goemkarponn and to the people of Goa.
