Team Goemkarponn
FATORDA: Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai on Sunday used his birthday gathering as a political platform to mobilize supporters, urging Goans to gear up for what he described as a crucial fight in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Unveiling plans for a statewide outreach programme titled **“Operation Vijai”**, scheduled to begin after Ganesh Chaturthi, Sardesai said the coming elections would be pivotal for preserving Goa’s unique identity and interests.
Addressing party workers and supporters, the GFP chief asserted that the next Assembly polls would be a defining moment for the State, calling on citizens to actively participate in shaping Goa’s future.
Sardesai said the proposed yatra would focus on taking the party’s message across Goa while highlighting issues that, according to him, have emerged during the BJP’s tenure in power.
While several speakers at the event advocated a stronger standalone political campaign against the BJP, Sardesai signalled that the party would carefully assess its future strategy and potential alliances before taking any major decisions.
Quoting advice received from Fr Alban, Sardesai stressed the need for patience and responsibility in opposition politics. He said the party would not act hastily and would instead evaluate developments before deciding its next course of action.
The GFP leader also took aim at the Congress, accusing the principal opposition party of not being visible enough on issues affecting ordinary citizens. Referring to a recent public protest led by social activist Pratima Coutinho, he questioned why opposition parties had not taken a more active role in supporting such movements.
Sardesai further remarked that decisions concerning Goa’s future should be guided by the people rather than distant political leadership. He claimed that efforts to build opposition unity had not progressed despite his willingness to explore closer cooperation with the Congress in the larger interest of the State.
According to Sardesai, discussions on political collaboration have witnessed differing positions over time, leading to uncertainty regarding a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reaffirming the GFP’s core message of “Goem, Goemkar ani Goemkarponn”, he urged supporters to transform the slogan into a broader movement dedicated to safeguarding Goa’s cultural identity and interests.
Criticising the BJP government, Sardesai alleged that the State had experienced years of misgovernance and called for a collective effort to bring about political change.
Meanwhile, GFP spokesperson Prashant Naik questioned the reasons behind the delay in forging greater opposition unity, noting that several senior Congress leaders had attended the birthday event and publicly interacted with Sardesai.
The celebrations also saw the presence of BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who briefly attended to convey his greetings to the GFP chief. Religious leaders, social figures and party functionaries, including Fr Victor Ferrao, Fr Alban and Kiran Naik, addressed the gathering.
