Who Is Vijai Sardesai? Goa Heavyweight Joins Hands With Arvind Kejriwal For 2027 Poll Bloc To Challenge BJP

News india Who Is Vijai Sardesai? Goa Heavyweight Joins Hands With Arvind Kejriwal For 2027 Poll Bloc To Challenge BJPLast Updated:September 13, 2026, 17:09 ISTBy aligning with AAP, Sardesai aims to consolidate non-BJP votes and prevent vote fragmentation across South and North GoaRapid ReadSummarized by AI.+Got Question about the News?Sardesai served as the Agriculture Minister and later as Goa's Deputy Chief Minister in 2019 before pulling out of the BJP-led government. File image/XGoa politics experienced a significant shift ahead of the 2027 assembly elections as Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) formally joined hands with Vijai Sardesai’s Goa Forward Party (GFP) to launch the Goa First alliance. Positioning the coalition as a formidable alternative aimed at dethroning the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), both leaders expressed a shared goal to break traditional political dynamics in the coastal state.The Political Profile of Vijai SardesaiRecommended StoriesGoa 2027: AAP & Goa Forward Party Form ‘Goa First’ Alliance | Kejriwal | News18AAP, Goa Forward Party Announce Alliance For 2027 Polls, Name It 'Goa First'AAP-GFP Alliance: Can Kejriwal Turn A Two-Seat Goa Base Into A 2027 Breakthrough?'Will Be Extra Cautious While Picking Rajya Sabha Nominees': Kejriwal After Raghav Chadha's ExitVijai Sardesai is a veteran politician, real estate businessman, and the founder of the Goa Forward Party. Currently representing the Fatorda constituency as a three-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Sardesai has long been a vocal figure in regional governance.Early Roots: Sardesai began his career in student politics before serving as the President of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress. He later parted ways with the Congress to contest and win as an Independent candidate from Fatorda in 2012.Launch of GFP: In 2016, he spearheaded the creation of the Goa Forward Party, anchoring its ideology on Goemkarponn (Goan identity, culture, and economic interests).Ministerial Stint: Following the 2017 elections, GFP played kingmaker by extending crucial support to form the BJP-led coalition under former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Sardesai subsequently served as the Agriculture Minister and later as Goa’s Deputy Chief Minister in 2019 before pulling out of the government.Context Behind the Alliance with AAPThe strategic alliance between AAP and GFP stems from growing friction among opposition ranks. While Sardesai’s party contested the 2022 assembly elections alongside the Congress, recent efforts to formalise an opposition bloc were stalled by delays and concerns over the grand old party’s history of legislative defections to the BJP.By aligning with AAP, Sardesai aims to consolidate non-BJP votes and prevent vote fragmentation across South and North Goa. The new partnership promises to focus heavily on local issue-based governance, regional preservation, and administrative accountability.Looking Ahead to 2027With the BJP seeking a fourth consecutive term, Sardesai’s regional footprint combined with AAP’s electoral machinery introduces a third-front alternative to Goa’s traditional bi-polar contest. As campaigning builds toward 2027, the success of the Goa First initiative will depend on whether the coalition can convince voters that a regional-national partnership is the key to political stability.News18 NewsletterHandpicked stories, in your inboxA newsletter with the best of our journalismQuick AnswersPowered byAsk News18The Goa First alliance is a political coalition formed ahead of the 2027 Goa assembly elections. It brings together Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Vijai Sardesai’s Goa Forward Party (GFP). The alliance is positioned as a non-BJP and non-Congress alternative aimed at challenging the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and preventing the fragmentation of non-BJP votes in the coastal state.Powered byAsk News18About the AuthorPathikrit Sen GuptaPathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra...Read MoreLocation :Panaji (Panjim, India, IndiaFirst Published:September 13, 2026, 17:09 ISTDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Loading comments...Read More