“The Speaker’s election should have been an opportunity for the Opposition to show at least symbolic solidarity. Instead, it turned into a case study of contradictions. AAP’s stand—backing Congress’s candidate while simultaneously announcing the end of the alliance—was the political equivalent of taking one step forward and two steps back. Congress, too, failed to turn the episode into a moment to demand accountability from the ruling side. Instead of questioning the morality of defections that have inflated the BJP’s strength, the Opposition let the ruling side walk away with an uncontested victory and the optics of strength.”
The election of Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar as Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly was not only smooth but also revealing. On the surface, it looked like an easy win for the ruling side, with a 33-7 majority ensuring there was little drama. But beneath the calm, the episode exposed once again the confusion and contradictions that plague the Opposition, especially the uneasy ties between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.
In the Speaker’s election, AAP chose to back Congress’s nominee. On paper, this might appear to signal Opposition unity, yet almost in the same breath, AAP declared the end of any alliance with the Congress. This contradictory position, supporting in the Assembly while distancing itself outside, captures the central dilemma of the Opposition in Goa. To be or not to be allies, that is the question. And as long as the Opposition dithers, the BJP continues to hold the upper hand.
The ruling party’s strength in the Assembly is obvious. With defections swelling its numbers and a disciplined voting bloc, the BJP faced no real threat in the Speaker’s election. What the election did reveal, however, is that the Opposition lacks a coherent strategy. Instead of working toward sustained unity, it appears trapped in a cycle of half-hearted alliances and public disagreements. AAP’s decision to back Congress only inside the Assembly but publicly distance itself elsewhere shows a lack of long-term planning. It reduces cooperation to a tactical gesture rather than a political strategy.
For Congress, this is a double-edged sword. On one hand, support from AAP helps it avoid complete isolation inside the House.
On the other hand, the constant reminder from AAP that the partnership is temporary undercuts Congress’s credibility as a leader of a united Opposition. The optics are damaging: a party that claims to challenge the BJP but cannot hold even its allies together.
The real winner in this confusion is the BJP. With 33 MLAs supporting Ganesh Gaonkar’s elevation to Speaker, the ruling side showed no cracks. Whatever internal tensions may exist, episodes like the Rama Kankonkar assault have hinted at dissent, and were neatly papered over in the Assembly. By contrast, the Opposition could not even project clarity in defeat. Instead of rallying around the bigger message of unity, it exposed divisions for the public to see.
This is not a small matter. In Goa’s fragmented political landscape, where no single party traditionally secures overwhelming support, unity is the Opposition’s only viable weapon. The BJP managed only 33 percent of the popular vote in the 2022 elections. Its dominance today is largely the result of defections and consolidation rather than a sweeping public mandate. That makes Opposition unity critical if the Congress and AAP want to mount a credible challenge in 2027. But by declaring alliances dead even while cooperating tactically, the Opposition sends the message that it cannot be trusted to stay together.
The irony is that voters, too, are watching. A fractured Opposition does not just weaken itself in the Assembly. It erodes public confidence outside. People want clarity. They want to know whether the Congress and AAP are together or not. The constant hedging only benefits the BJP, which thrives on projecting stability in comparison to Opposition chaos.
The Speaker’s election should have been an opportunity for the Opposition to show at least symbolic solidarity. Instead, it turned into a case study of contradictions. AAP’s stand—backing Congress’s candidate while simultaneously announcing the end of the alliance—was the political equivalent of taking one step forward and two steps back. Congress, too, failed to turn the episode into a moment to demand accountability from the ruling side. Instead of questioning the morality of defections that have inflated the BJP’s strength, the Opposition let the ruling side walk away with an uncontested victory and the optics of strength.
Ultimately, the dilemma of “to be or not to be” allies is not just Shakespearean rhetoric in Goa politics—it is the defining weakness of the Opposition. Unless Congress and AAP make a clear decision and communicate it consistently, they will continue to hand the BJP easy victories, both in the Assembly and at the ballot box.
Ganesh Gaonkar’s smooth election as Speaker symbolized the ruling side’s control. But the real story is the Opposition’s failure to decide whether it wants to stand together or fall apart. In that uncertainty lies the BJP’s greatest advantage.
