The Aam Aadmi Party has once again raised the question of Opposition unity in Goa, but in doing so it has also exposed the contradiction at the heart of its own politics. On one hand, AAP says it wants a united Opposition to defeat the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections. On the other, its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal continues to attack the Congress and ask voters to choose AAP. If this is the language of an alliance partner, what exactly does AAP mean by alliance?
The latest remarks are revealing. Kejriwal, during his visit to Goa, said AAP has constituted a three-member committee to speak to like-minded parties. At the same time, when asked whether AAP’s criticism of Congress could hurt alliance prospects, his response was essentially that Congress also attacks AAP. He then said voters should choose AAP, or whichever alliance AAP becomes part of.
This is precisely where AAP needs to clear the air.
Does it genuinely want an alliance, or does it want the political benefits of appearing to support Opposition unity while continuing to expand its own electoral footprint at the expense of Congress?
There is nothing wrong with AAP wanting to grow in Goa. Every political party has the right to contest every constituency and seek votes. But alliance politics requires political discipline. If AAP wants Congress to be its partner, it cannot simultaneously behave as though Congress is its principal electoral enemy.
The contradiction becomes even sharper when AAP talks about defeating the BJP while questioning Congress’s intentions. AAP’s Goa leadership had earlier said that Congress, as the senior Opposition party, should take the initiative in bringing Opposition parties together. It has also repeatedly spoken about a Common Minimum Programme and an anti-BJP front.
So what has changed?
If the objective is genuinely to defeat the BJP, then the conversation should be about where the Opposition can collectively defeat the BJP, not about how many constituencies each party can capture from the other.
This is particularly important in Goa because elections here are not simply arithmetic exercises. Constituencies have their own political histories, personalities, local equations and voter loyalties. A national party cannot simply import a Delhi or Punjab template and expect Goans to accept it.
That brings us to another uncomfortable question: does AAP really fit into Goa’s political ecosystem?
AAP has been in Goa for several years and won two Assembly seats in 2022. Its MLAs have remained in the Opposition, and that is certainly a political credential. Venzy Viegas has argued that AAP has stayed in the Opposition for more than four years without crossing over to the BJP, while acknowledging that Congress has its own record of defections.
But staying in Opposition is only one measure of political credibility. The bigger question is whether AAP has developed a genuinely Goan political identity.
Goa has always resisted politics that appears excessively controlled from outside. Political parties that survive here are those that understand the local mood, local institutions, community equations, land issues, environment, tourism, jobs and the distinct aspirations of Goans. AAP cannot remain permanently dependent on the personality and political vocabulary of Arvind Kejriwal and expect voters to see it as a truly Goan alternative.
Kejriwal’s interventions also deserve scrutiny. During his latest visit, he attacked the Centre’s E20 petrol policy and claimed Goa was among the worst affected states. He has also urged Goans to vote out the BJP. These are legitimate political issues, but the question is whether Goans actually endorse Kejriwal’s larger political worldview or merely listen to him as another visiting politician.
There is an even more cynical question that AAP itself must answer. Is Kejriwal coming to Goa to build an alternative political movement, or is Goa becoming another convenient destination for national political campaigning? The suggestion that he is enjoying Goa at Punjab’s expense is politically provocative, but it also points to a legitimate issue of accountability. Political leaders should explain the purpose, cost and political substance of repeated visits rather than treating Goa as a stage for national messaging.
For Congress, however, the answer cannot simply be to reject AAP. If defeating the BJP is the stated objective, Opposition parties must have serious conversations. Congress has itself indicated that it is open to alliances with anti-BJP parties provided there is a common programme and shared political understanding.
But an alliance cannot be built on television statements and press conferences.
If AAP really wants an alliance, it must demonstrate it through action. Stop attacking potential partners in constituencies where seat adjustments may eventually be required. Stop sending contradictory signals. Sit across the table with Congress, GFP and other Opposition parties and decide what the alliance stands for.
And Congress must do the same.
Ultimately, the decision belongs to Goans. They will decide whether AAP has become part of Goa’s political ecosystem or remains an outside political experiment. They will also decide whether Kejriwal’s arguments resonate with them.
The Opposition cannot manufacture unity merely by repeating the word “alliance”. If AAP wants one, it must first prove that it wants a partnership more than it wants political space. Otherwise, the alliance talk will remain exactly what many voters may already suspect it is: political lip service.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
