PANAJI
There are three possible outcomes which could emerge from the current volatile situation inside the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), topmost of which is a reconciliation, which seems unlikely but not impossible, given the public nature of the feud, the extent of personal attacks exchanged and the 'angry young man' disposition of those involved.
The second possibility is the two factions formally splitting ” one possibly aligning with Congress, the other clinging to grassroots identity politics or other alignments.
The third outcome is inevitable political attrition, with grassroots cadres and the support base drifting away, leaving the RGP hollowed out.
Each of these three scenarios will unarguably have an impact on Goa’s politics.
A split gives an advantage to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by further fragmenting opposition votes.
Borkar's rumoured crossover to Congress, if it happens, could bolster its numbers but risks diluting the RGP’s distinct energy and appeal; and attrition of the RGP support base will leave Goa’s anti-BJP space weaker overall.
Amid this volatile internal situation in the RGP, meanwhile, Goa’s other Opposition players are watching closely, some with quiet anticipation, others with wary calculation.
Congress: Waiting in the wings?
Speculation that St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar may cross over to the Congress has refused to die down, despite denials from State president Amit Patkar and South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes.
For Congress, taking Borkar in would be a tactical gain: it would strengthen its presence in St Andre and bolster its anti-BJP credentials. But there is also a real risk, with hardcore RGP supporters, who rallied around its outsider image, potentially seeing such a move as a betrayal.
The principal Opposition party, which has been singing the 'united opposition' tune in the run-up to the 2027 electoral test, will have to weigh whether the addition of one MLA offsets the potential alienation of grassroots voters who distrust mainstream parties.
AAP: Opportunity in chaos?
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has struggled to expand beyond pockets of support in Goa, could benefit from the RGP’s implosion. AAP’s pitch of clean governance overlaps with the RGP’s anti-establishment appeal. In this chaotic melee, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party may find fertile ground to lure away disillusioned RGP cadres.
However, AAP’s challenge remains organisational depth, lacking as it does adequate local networks, which makes it a soft target to be branded an outsider attempting to parachute into Goan politics.
GFP: The regional balancer
The Goa Forward Party (GFP), led by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, once a vocal regional force, has been somewhat eclipsed in recent years. The crisis at hand in the RGP could offer it a chance to reclaim relevance by positioning itself as the stable regional alternative. If the RGP fragments, the GFP could be one of the outfits attracting voters who still want a Goan-centric party.
The larger picture
On the larger State-wide political canvas, the spectacle has come as a timely gift for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A fractured Opposition, split between Congress, AAP, GFP and now a weakened RGP, helps it consolidate its dominance and, unless one of these parties seizes the moment to unify the anti-BJP space to the extent possible, Goa’s Opposition will go into the 2027 battle as a clear underdog.
