MARGAO
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Monday sent a clear signal to like-minded non-BJP parties that the regional party would not be content with a couple of seats in the event of a grand alliance of opposition parties to fight the upcoming Assembly election.
A crucial state executive meeting of the party, chaired by president Vijai Sardesai, has resolved to undertake a major organisational revamp, with the GFP deciding to reconstitute 12 blocks in the first phase by Goa Statehood Day on May 30.
The party’s decision to revamp the organisation and concentrate on 12 constituencies in the first phase before undertaking the second phase comes after Sardesai’s recent statement that the regional party will engage an agency to conduct a rational assessment of the party’s prospects on the ground in view of the upcoming Assembly polls.
The party also said that the regional party will be open to talks with like-minded parties, but made it clear that it will not wait till the last minute to seal an alliance. The party's general secretary Mohandas Lolienkar told the media during the post-meeting briefing that GFP had a bitter experience in the 2022 Assembly elections when the party could not assert itself at the last minute, with other parties raising the bogey of a split in the non-BJP vote.
In a significant restructuring move, general secretary (organisation) Durgadas Kamat confirmed that all block committees and cells of the party have been dissolved as part of a major organisational revamp. He announced that the party will reconstitute all 12 block committees in the first phase by May 30.
Lolienkar announced that the party will launch the first phase of its statewide membership drive starting May 25, 2026. He stated that, with elections approaching, the party aims to reach out to as many people as possible and strengthen its organisational presence across Goa.
Saying the party has strong reports that certain parties are being brought to Goa from other states to split votes, Lolienkar said the GFP will not allow this to happen.
The meeting, Durgadas said, has strengthened GFP's commitment to building a robust, election-ready organisation rooted in "Goemkarponn and regional self-respect".
To a question on whether the party took stock of the prevailing political situation in the light of the unfolding developments in the regional Revolutionary Goans Party, Durgadas shot back:
“We have discussed our party’s plans and will move forward accordingly. There is a vacuum in the regional parties in Goa, and the Goa Forward will try and fill the void.”
The state executive meeting was also attended by joint secretary Vikas Bhagat, executive member Rajesh Kalangutkar, general secretary Prashant Naik, North Goa president Deepak Kalangutkar, vice president Dilip Prabhudesai, executive member Nisa Subedar, Kadar Shah, Dr Lorraine Dias among others.
