“What explains this volte-face?
The most immediate factor is the looming political urgency of the Ponda bypoll. Elections, even by-elections, sharpen political instincts. Congress cannot afford to look divided or indecisive when it is trying to consolidate anti-BJP votes. A strong, assertive opposition posture — even at the cost of internal discomfort — becomes necessary. In that sense, backing Alemao may have been less about endorsing his language and more about projecting unity and aggression against the ruling establishment.
Yet, to attribute this entirely to electoral strategy would be simplistic.
The episode also points to a simmering internal rift within the opposition bloc.”
In Goa’s ever-shifting political theatre, consistency is often the first casualty. The recent “U-turn” by Manikrao Thakare — from distancing himself from Yuri Alemao’s controversial “Judas” remark to firmly backing his stand — is not just a minor course correction. It is a revealing moment that exposes deeper anxieties within the Congress and the fragile arithmetic of opposition unity in the state.
Initially, Thakare had publicly distanced the Congress from Alemao’s “Judas” jibe aimed at Vijai Sardesai, stressing that such remarks were inappropriate and harmful to opposition cohesion. This was a calculated move — an attempt to keep the alliance with the Goa Forward Party intact, especially when the opposition is numerically weak and politically fragmented.
But within days, the tone shifted. Thakare not only backed Alemao’s stand in the Assembly but went a step further, accusing Sardesai of indirectly supporting the government’s move to curtail the Budget session. � The same leadership that had cautioned restraint now appeared to justify the provocation.
What explains this volte-face?
The most immediate factor is the looming political urgency of the Ponda bypoll. Elections, even by-elections, sharpen political instincts. Congress cannot afford to look divided or indecisive when it is trying to consolidate anti-BJP votes. A strong, assertive opposition posture — even at the cost of internal discomfort — becomes necessary. In that sense, backing Alemao may have been less about endorsing his language and more about projecting unity and aggression against the ruling establishment.
Yet, to attribute this entirely to electoral strategy would be simplistic.
The episode also points to a simmering internal rift within the opposition bloc. The Congress-GFP relationship has always been one of convenience rather than conviction. Historical mistrust — dating back to post-2017 alignments — continues to shadow present-day cooperation. The GFP’s shifting political loyalties over the years have made it both a necessary ally and an unreliable partner in the eyes of Congress.
Thakare’s initial criticism of Alemao’s remark was, in effect, an attempt to preserve this uneasy alliance. But the backlash — both from within the Congress ranks and the broader opposition space — likely forced a recalibration. By quickly reaffirming support for Alemao, Thakare signaled that internal leadership authority and cadre morale would not be sacrificed at the altar of alliance diplomacy.
This raises a more uncomfortable question: was Thakare’s first response a misreading of ground sentiment?
In Goa’s political culture, strong rhetoric often resonates more than cautious diplomacy. Alemao’s sharp attack on Sardesai may have been controversial, but it also reflected a deeper frustration within sections of the opposition — a perception that some allies are not consistently aligned against the government. Thakare’s initial distancing may have appeared as hesitation, even weakness, prompting the need for a corrective pivot.
However, the damage is already done.
By first ridiculing or downplaying Alemao’s “Judas” comment and then defending his broader stand, Thakare has exposed the Congress to charges of inconsistency. Political messaging thrives on clarity. Flip-flops, especially in quick succession, create confusion not just among voters but within party ranks.
More importantly, this episode underscores the absence of a coherent opposition strategy in Goa. If allies cannot trust each other’s intent, and if leadership oscillates between accommodation and confrontation, the BJP’s political advantage only deepens.
The Congress today faces a dual challenge: to appear united externally while managing contradictions internally. Thakare’s U-turn may have temporarily papered over cracks, but it has also highlighted how fragile that unity really is.
In the end, the question is not whether Thakare was right to back Alemao or to caution him earlier. The real issue is this: does the Congress in Goa have a clear, consistent line when it comes to dealing with its allies?
Until that question is answered, such U-turns will not be exceptions — they will be the norm.
