Seat ambitions could trip pre-poll alliance talks in Goa

PANAJI: With political parties in Goa gearing up for the 2027 assembly elections, the battle for a larger share of seats has emerged as a major stumbling block in efforts to forge pre-poll alliances. While politicians have publicly expressed their willingness to join hands, negotiations have yet to move beyond statements, with competing electoral ambitions threatening to complicate alliance-building efforts.Clouds on the horizon: BJP and its ally, MGP, are keen on forging a pre-poll understanding. However, the prospect of an alliance has brought its own set of challenges, with both parties looking to maximise the number of constituencies they can contest. The tussle over seat allocation is expected to test the relationship between the two parties as they seek to protect their respective political interests.In the 2022 assembly elections, BJP and MGP fought elections separately, but BJP was able to get the majority mark and MGP was restricted to two seats. With anti-incumbency, it is essential for BJP to go with its natural ally, MGP, but MGP has announced that they have been working in 13 constituencies to contest the assembly elections.MGP pushes for more: “MGP president has said that we have been working in 13 constituencies and our work will continue in those constituencies,” senior MGP functionary and power minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said. Sudin is looking to contest from Ponda, which has been represented by BJP. The seat is vacant following the death of former BJP Ponda MLA and former agriculture minister Ravi Naik.For BJP, retaining its dominant position in the state remains a priority, while MGP would seek a more favourable seat-sharing arrangement to strengthen its bargaining power and expand its political footprint. Although the two parties may see an electoral advantage in contesting together, deciding how many seats each should get could prove to be a difficult exercise, a political observer said.Talks begin, deal awaits: Chief minister Pramod Sawant has said that the preliminary alliance talks have begun and a final decision would be taken by central members of the party.House of cards?: The situation on the opposition front appears even more complicated. Congress, GFP, RG and AAP have so far failed to break the ice on a possible alliance, despite the need to consolidate anti-BJP votes. GFP and AAP forged a pre-poll alliance, but it remained on paper. GFP decided to cut its ties with AAP following internal issues over the alliance.Congress and RG have held the first round of alliance talks, but have not finalised the seat-sharing and are yet to announce the alliance officially.Numbers game: Each party is keen to contest in the maximum possible number of constituencies, making seat-sharing a sensitive issue even before formal negotiations gather momentum.Unity call: GFP’s state executive held a meeting chaired by its president Vijai Sardesai, where a decision was taken that all opposition forces need to unite to avoid splitting the opposition votes in the coming elections.“While a united opposition could potentially prevent the division of votes among parties competing against BJP, individual ambitions and differing electoral calculations continue to stand in the way of a common strategy,” a political observer said.Fight for relevance: Congress, which traditionally claims a larger role in the state’s opposition politics, will be expected to seek a substantial share of seats. The smaller parties, meanwhile, are unlikely to settle for a marginal presence in an alliance, particularly if they believe their organisational strength and local support could translate into electoral gains.“For GFP, RGP and AAP, the challenge will be to secure enough constituencies to retain their political relevance while avoiding a contest that could split the anti-BJP vote. Reaching a consensus would require not only flexibility over seat allocation but also clarity on the broader campaign strategy and the leadership of a possible alliance,” a political observer said.Time ticking: The delay in negotiations has raised questions about whether the opposition parties can overcome their differences before the electoral contest gathers pace. Public expressions of unity may help keep the possibility of an alliance alive, but translating that intent into a workable seat-sharing formula will require sustained negotiations and compromises.Ambition versus arithmetic: Ultimately, the contest over seats reflects a larger political dilemma in Goa: whether parties are willing to prioritise collective electoral gains over individual ambitions. For the BJP-MGP combine, the challenge lies in balancing the interests of an established alliance partner. For the opposition, it is about building a credible alternative without allowing competing claims to derail the process.“As political parties stake their claims, the decisive question is whether they can move beyond public posturing and arrive at a mutually acceptable arrangement. Until then, alliance politics in Goa is likely to remain dominated by bargaining, competing ambitions and uncertainty over the final electoral equations,” a political observer said.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Goa | Silver Rate in Goa | Bank Holidays in Goa | Public Holidays in Goa | Petrol Price in GoaStay updated with the latest Goa news. Download the TOI App.