The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), better known for its revolutionary ambitions than its electoral arithmetic, reportedly wants 16 of Goa's 40 Assembly constituencies from the Congress in the proposed alliance for the 2027 elections.
Sixteen seats! Let that sink in.
A fledgling regional party with just one MLA in the present Assembly seems to have developed an appetite considerably larger than its electoral stomach. It wants to bite off 16 seats and presumably expects Congress to figure out how to help it chew, digest and swallow the political consequences.
One wonders whether this demand is based on some serious electoral assessment or whether somebody simply threw a dart at Goa's electoral map and declared, "These 16 will do!"
The Congress, which currently has three MLAs after eight of its legislators deserted the party like rats abandoning a sinking ship, must surely be wondering what exactly RGP is smoking. But the political landscape has changed since those days of desertion and humiliation. Congress has shown signs of resurrection, thanks in no small measure to Rahul Gandhi, and appears to be enjoying favourable political winds, not just in Goa but nationally as well.
And this is precisely when RGP arrives at the negotiating table with a demand that sounds less like an alliance proposal and more like an invoice presented by a contractor who has done no work but expects full payment.
Sixteen seats for one MLA? What next, the Chief Minister's chair as a joining bonus?
What makes this demand even more amusing is the state of RGP's own political machinery. The party is hardly a picture of organisational unity, with internal differences between the Viresh Borkar faction and the Manoj Parab camp exposing its own organisational shortcomings.
Before demanding 16 constituencies from Congress, perhaps RGP should first establish who is actually running the party and whether both factions agree on which direction the revolution is supposed to go.
But where does this leave Congress?
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao is reportedly eyeing 27 seats for the party to form the next government. If RGP wants 16, Congress is left with just 24 constituencies to
Does Congress now have to sacrifice its own electoral ambitions to accommodate the grand aspirations of a party with a solitary legislator?
And the complications do not end there.
There are also whispers of alliance discussions with the Goa Forward Party headed by Vijay Sardessai. Now, if RGP believes it deserves 16 seats, one can only imagine what Sardessai might demand.
Unlike RGP, Goa Forward has been around the political block, and Sardessai is no political novice. He knows the art of bargaining and extracting his pound of flesh. In fact, given the circumstances, he may well demand an entire carcass!
At this rate, Congress could find itself negotiating for the privilege of contesting its own election.
So, is this an alliance to defeat the BJP or a grand exercise in distributing constituencies before anyone has even won them?
More importantly, is RGP genuinely interested in an alliance with Congress, or is it simply attempting to eat into the Congress's political space from the outside?
Viresh Borkar has undoubtedly gained visibility through his hunger strike and the agitation that led to the scrapping of Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act in his constituency. His campaign deserves recognition for the political impact it generated.
But let us not confuse a successful constituency-level movement with statewide electoral dominance.
An agitation that resonates in one constituency does not automatically translate into votes across 40 constituencies. Political popularity is not transferable property, nor can it be photocopied and distributed among prospective candidates.
Borkar may have built a following in his backyard, but what about the rest of Goa? Particularly South Goa?
If RGP genuinely believes it has the electoral strength to justify its demand, let it demonstrate that strength.
Where are the candidates? Who are the probable nominees? What is the party's organisational presence and voter base in these constituencies?
These are basic questions. Demanding 16 seats without presenting a credible list of winnable candidates is like ordering a lavish wedding banquet without knowing whether the guests will turn up.
A political genie might grant wishes, but elections are not conducted by rubbing magic lamps.
And if this is the level of bargaining before an alliance is even formalised, one shudders to imagine the demands for cabinet berths after an electoral victory. Perhaps RGP will want the Home Ministry, Finance Ministry and a couple of government corporations thrown in for good measure!
Meanwhile, Congress must not lose sight of Goa Forward and its own complicated relationship with the party.
The much-discussed political marriage between Goa Forward and the Aam Aadmi Party turned out to be a relationship that appeared to have collapsed even before it could properly consummate. With voters voicing their displeasure, Sardessai eventually found himself looking towards Congress, rather like the prodigal son returning home after discovering that the neighbouring house was not quite as welcoming as advertised.
But will Congressmen welcome him with open arms? That remains a million-dollar question. The relationship between Sardessai and sections of the Congress has hardly been a bed of roses. How this love-hate relationship unfolds is anybody's guess.
Nevertheless, the political winds appear to be blowing in Congress's favour. There is a growing desire among sections of Goan voters to see a Congress-led alliance take charge in 2027.
But favourable winds alone do not guarantee victory. Congress must get its candidate selection absolutely right.
And this is where the real danger lies.
The party must be extremely careful about the characters it welcomes into its fold. There are political turncoats who suddenly rediscover their love for Congress whenever their own political fortunes begin to look bleak. They arrive with folded hands, rehearsed speeches about democracy and promises of undying loyalty.
But voters have seen this movie before. They remember those who betrayed their mandate, abandoned the party on whose ticket they were elected and conveniently crossed over to the BJP when the political price was right.
Congress would be committing political suicide if it allows such characters to walk back in, secure tickets and lecture voters about loyalty and public service.
Voters may forgive political mistakes, but they rarely forget political betrayal.
An alliance must be about mutual accommodation, not unilateral entitlement. Seats should be allocated on electoral strength, organisational presence, candidate credibility and winnability — not inflated egos and imaginary vote banks.
After all, the objective is to defeat the BJP, not conduct a political clearance sale in which every aspiring partner walks away with a constituency while Congress is left holding the empty shopping bag.
Goa needs a credible government, not an alliance that spends more time distributing constituencies than convincing voters.
Come 2027, the people of Goa will have the final say. They will decide who deserves their mandate, their trust and, more importantly, who deserves to be shown the exit door.
Because Goans may be politically patient, but they are certainly not politically stupid.
And no amount of revolutionary rhetoric, political gymnastics or pre-election seat bargaining can change that.
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