To
The Editor
Herald Goa
The recent O Heraldo article, “Goa’s Political Vacuum: If Not BJP, Then Who?”, asks the right question—but perhaps draws the wrong conclusion.
If the objective is to defeat the BJP, Goa does not need another opposition front. It needs a united opposition.
The O Heraldo article rightly points out that Goa's opposition has historically suffered from personal ambitions, rivalries and lack of unity. But the answer to this problem cannot be to create yet another political formation. The answer must be to overcome those differences.
Of the new formations if true, the Goa Forward Party was itself part of the BJP-led government in the past. AAP’s emergence added another political choice, further fragmenting the traditional secular contest. RGP, meanwhile, has given voice to important issues such as Goa’s identity, land, environment and the interests of Goans. Such voices have value—but the anti-BJP vote must not merely exist; it must be converted into seats.
The arithmetic is simple: if the anti-BJP vote is larger, dividing it among Congress, AAP, GFP, RGP and others only strengthens the BJP.
The answer is straightforward: One Constituency, One Anti-BJP Candidate. One common programme. One commitment to respect the people’s mandate.
Goa has seen enough political fragmentation. What is needed now is political maturity—the willingness of opposition parties to put Goa First above personal ambitions and party interests.
The real question is not “If not BJP, then who?”
It is: “If the opposition has the numbers, why divide the vote and hand victory to the BJP?”
Goa does not need more opposition parties. It needs one united alternative to protect what is left of Goa and preserve it for future generations.
Clarence Alvares
