Team Goemkarponn
FATORDA: With an eye on a broader political footprint, Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai is making a decisive move to expand beyond his Fatorda stronghold, announcing his party’s full-scale entry into Margao ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
The former minister revealed that GFP will contest all 25 wards—spanning Fatorda, Margao, and Curtorim—in the upcoming Margao Municipal Council polls, positioning this civic battle as a testing ground for the 2027 Assembly elections.
“This isn’t just about municipal polls. My entry into Margao is the beginning of GFP’s presence in a constituency we intend to contest in 2027. If I stay confined to Fatorda, I risk political stagnation,” Sardesai said in a televised interview, outlining his intention to shift from a regional player to a broader state-level contender.
The move comes amid growing BJP inroads in Salcete, a traditional Opposition bastion. Sardesai acknowledged this changing dynamic and said it was time to reshape political strategies. “We need to go beyond past mistakes. The division among Opposition parties in 2022 cost us dearly,” he noted.
While Sardesai has hinted at possible alliances, including a merger with the Congress, he maintained that GFP will fight the municipal elections under its own banner—for now. “I won’t announce any alliance today, but I’m open to all possibilities if it leads to real change,” he said.
His comments reflect not just a tactical shift but a deepening political ambition—to move from being a strong constituency leader in Fatorda to a central figure in Goa’s evolving Opposition landscape.
Sardesai also signaled a willingness to reinvent himself and his party, even at the cost of identity. “For Goa’s future, I’m ready to give up anything—even the party name. This is not about ego; it’s about building a real alternative.”
As municipal elections approach and the countdown to 2027 begins, Sardesai’s political repositioning suggests that Margao could be the new battleground for Goa Forward’s future.
