Team Goenkarponn
PANAJI: Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief and the party’s sole MLA, Vijai Sardesai, sought to contain the political fallout after drawing criticism for inducting former Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes into the party.
Addressing the media in Panaji, Sardesai clarified that Fernandes would not be considered for a GFP ticket in the 2027 Assembly polls. He said the decision to welcome Fernandes was taken purely with an eye on strengthening the chances of GFP’s Zilla Panchayat candidate from Canacona, Prashant Naik.
Despite the clarification, the induction has stirred a storm within the Opposition space. Both the Congress and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) — parties Sardesai had earlier expressed interest in joining forces with to take on the BJP — have reacted sharply. The episode has put GFP in a tight spot, with its prospective allies questioning Sardesai’s consistency and trustworthiness.
The controversy now hangs over the Opposition’s efforts to project a united front, even as Sardesai attempts to limit the political damage.
