Kejriwal announces ‘Goa First’ alliance with GFP, targets BJP-Congress ahead of 2027 polls

Panaji: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced a pre-poll alliance with Vijai Sardesai-led Goa Forward Party (GFP) for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, naming the bloc ‘Goa First’.

Kejriwal said the alliance would provide voters with an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress and vowed to remove the BJP from power in the state.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal alleged that the BJP and Congress have been working in collusion in Goa, claiming that the Congress has repeatedly helped the BJP retain power despite voters backing it in elections.

Kejriwal pointed to the 2017 Assembly elections, when the Congress emerged as the single-largest party but failed to form the government, while the BJP subsequently came to power. He alleged that Congress MLAs later moved to the BJP, helping strengthen the ruling party.

He also referred to the 2022 elections, claiming that the Congress again played a role in enabling the BJP to remain in government.

According to Kejriwal, voters have therefore been 'betrayed twice' and are now looking for a credible political alternative.

'People were betrayed twice. However, they are not in a mood to be betrayed again. People want options,' Kejriwal said, alleging that the two parties attack each other publicly but ultimately work together.

He said the newly announced ‘Goa First’ alliance would seek to bring together voters who want to defeat both the BJP and Congress in the 2027 elections.

'The BJP knows that they would lose in 2027, but they are confident that the Congress will help them retain power. However, people want to change this,' Kejriwal claimed.

The announcement came a day after Kejriwal arrived in Goa and indicated that he was preparing to make a major political announcement.

Speaking to reporters at Dabolim Airport on Saturday, the former Delhi Chief Minister had said people in Goa were 'fed up' with the existing political parties and wanted a change.

'There is a press conference tomorrow at 3:00 PM; the people of Goa are fed up with these parties and want a change, so we will talk about it tomorrow,' Kejriwal had said.

Earlier on Saturday, Kejriwal had also posted on X that he was travelling to Goa to make a 'very big announcement'.

With Sunday’s announcement, AAP and GFP have formally positioned their alliance as a third political alternative ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.

Kejriwal said ‘Goa First’ would be the platform for those seeking a change in the state’s political leadership.