Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of creating a “dahshat” by imposing coal projects, destroying the environment, compromising on Mhadei, and stifling people’s voices. He told AMRESH PARAB of THE NAVHIND TIMES that a Congress government would stop coal “cent per cent,” adding that unwanted projects only bring “curses and wrath.” On defections, Alemao blamed the BJP for “buying” MLAs and said that those who switched sides in 2022 would be rejected in 2027.
He said opposition unity would be crucial in the run-up to the next election, but made clear that Congress would not ally with parties that “romance” with the BJP
Politics is not new to you—you come from a family of political heavyweights, with Churchill Alemao having served as chief minister and Member of Parliament and your father Joaquim Alemao as a cabinet minister. Now, as Leader of Opposition for the past three years, how do you assess the current political scenario in the state?
One must understand that the BJP has created a sense of ‘dahshat’ (fear) by imposing coal projects, converting green land, destroying the environment, compromising on Mhadei, undermining democracy, and snatching away the rights of the people. The voices of citizens are not heard; instead, they are stifled. When people agitate, police complaints are filed against them, and they are threatened by the authorities. As opposition MLAs, we raise our voices against such undemocratic actions, but the BJP succeeds in these illicit acts because it has the numbers on its side. The party has reduced politics to a very low level. However, I am confident that with people’s support, we will rise again to bring change and ensure relief and freedom for the public.
You mentioned ‘coal’. If the Opposition gets an opportunity to form the government, will you stop it?
Cent per cent! If you look back, you will recall that the Congress scrapped the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) after people protested against them. I strongly believe that imposing unwanted projects on people only invites their anger and resentment. Moreover, won’t our children question us, when they grow up, about the state we are leaving behind if things continue as they are today? On the issue of coal, I feel all MLAs should come together on a common platform, irrespective of party affiliations.
In the recent past, the Congress in Goa witnessed defection on two occasions. In 2019, 10 Congress MLAs joined the BJP and again in 2022, eight more walked the same path. Given the history of defection, why do you think people will vote for the party again?
BJP has become the master architect of defections, offering money, coercing opposition MLAs, and abusing state machinery. The real culprit is the BJP. After the 2019 defections, seven of those MLAs were defeated in the 2022 elections, including a person who was holding the position of Opposition Leader (Chandrakant Kavalekar). This happened because people realised they had been cheated and their rights looted by selfish leaders. Do you think the eight MLAs who joined the BJP in 2022 will win in 2027? They did not switch sides for public welfare but to protect themselves from cases, secure positions, and satisfy personal greed. If their constituencies had been developed, they would not have raised questions against their own government in the assembly. People will show them the door in 2027. Unlike them, Altone D’Costa and Carlos Ferreira didn’t join them. We have respected our almighties where we took oath and more importantly didn’t betray the trust of our voters. Defections are eroding people’s faith in democracy. It may give immediate gains, but but the long-term losses could be dangerous. Goa is witnessing this now—but it will end after 2027. I am confident of that.
Politics in Goa is often driven more by personalities than by parties. Ahead of the 2027 assembly polls, apart from the three constituencies currently held by the Congress, do you believe the party has other winnable candidates in other constituencies?
As you mentioned earlier, we faced defections in 2019, when our Leader of Opposition from Quepem joined the BJP. However, the Congress regained the constituency by electing Altone D’Costa, who has been vocal in the assembly in demanding justice for his people. I was given the party ticket and got elected from Cuncolim. Similarly, in 2027, you will see more such winnable candidates. We will identify and field them by listening to the voices of the people.
After the defections, as your workers also switched, people say that the Congress is weak at the grassroots, and is literally inactive.
It is incorrect to say that all our workers switched sides. Many block members refused to follow the defected MLAs and continue to work with us actively. Through the Samvidhan Bachao Abhiyan, I have been visiting constituencies to expose the BJP’s act of ‘vote chori,’ and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. While there are some areas where more effort is needed, we are addressing them. Even within the BJP, their cadre is disillusioned, with loyalists growing frustrated as they are sidelined by the leadership.
Do you believe a coalition is the best way forward to win the forthcoming elections? If yes, which party is the Congress most likely to align with? If not, why?
Today, our leader Rahul Gandhi is spearheading the movement against ‘vote chori’ with the support of our allies at the national level. Other parties are with us because they too have suffered losses due to this. Had this not happened, the situation would have been very different—our youth would not be facing unemployment, housewives would not be struggling with inflation, and the economy would not be in collapse. The opposition understands this, and we are united in our fight against the BJP. As far as Goa is concerned, I do not want to sound overconfident, but I believe the opposition’s unity will make us stronger and bring anti-BJP voters together on one platform. At the right time, we will go to the people, seek their support, and decide on alliances. What we do not want are parties that ‘romance’ with the BJP.
Do you support the idea of readmitting leaders who deserted the Congress in the past and later joined BJP?
Betrayal is betrayal, no matter how it is justified. You cannot trust those who switch sides for personal gain—their actions speak louder than their words.
As LoP, are you trying to get former Congressmen who are with non-BJP parties, into the party fold.
I do not wish to interfere in the functioning of other opposition parties. Let each one do their best and take decisions in the larger interest of Goa.
In 2021, BJP faced strong anti-incumbency, but the Congress failed to capitalise on it. For the 2027 polls, how do you plan to win when your leaders who used to drive the Congress campaign in the past are now with the BJP?
Who is with the BJP today? The very people once accused by them of being rapists, scamsters, the corrupt, power thieves, and land grabbers. Their presence is not a threat to the Congress but a threat to the BJP itself, because people now see the ‘washing machine and detergent’ the BJP has used to temporarily cleanse them.
How do you see the future of the Congress party in Goa?
We have never used power against the people or their aspirations, and today people have realised the difference between the Congress and the BJP. Congress fought for India’s freedom, our leaders secured statehood for Goa, and we gave the state its identity. Goans will not fall for the agendas of the ‘sangh’, which once disrespected our Tricolour and is now spreading hatred to disturb communal harmony for electoral gain. The people of Goa will decide the future of the Congress if they value our contribution to freedom, brotherhood, communal harmony, and the culture of living together.
