STRAIGHT TALK : AAP is ready to have a bad marriage with Cong for the sake of the child- goa

Added: 2026-06-10

[00:00:07]Hello and welcome to this episode of straight talk. Uh my guest to today is the president of the Amadi party in Goa, Walmiki Nyak. Walmiki, welcome to the show.

[00:00:19]>> Thank you.

[00:00:20]>> And uh straight talk of course is my is my weekly uh discussion with newsmakers and important stakeholders of Goa. uh while mik I'll I'll start straight away by asking you about the uh 20 impending 2027 elections uh but before we do that there are there are a few uh statistical data which I'd like to use as a base for our discussion see in uh 2020 uh in 2017 the party got about roughly uh you know uh about 6.34 4% of the wood share roughly. Okay. So, and in 2022 it got about 64,354 votes and it got about 6.85% of the wood share. So, the wood share difference wasn't uh wasn't too much. So, essentially it got about uh you know it got 6.34 in in 2017 and 6.85 in 2022.

[00:01:21]Now what happened in 2017 was it got a vote share but it could not get a single seat. But what really happened was apart from Benoli where Roya came second and maybe in Kortali Mariano got some votes the party you know lost his deposits in all the other seats. Uh in 2022 there was a very marginal 6,000 odd increase in your vote share. However, you got two seats because uh in two seats of uh Benolian Valley the votes concentrated and you I mean you didn't win by huge margins but you won you got enough votes to sail through. Uh so with the same percentage of votes you managed to get get two seats. However, if you kind of look at the entire statewide scenario in both 17 and 22 there was not a statewide presence in terms of vote share and votes. It was you know in some pockets it was it was okay. 2022 it was good in some parts of salsid but it was not there. With that in mind uh why would you want to if at all uh look at a scenario where would be ready to contest say 39 seats or 40 seats.

[00:02:34]>> Uh first of all congratulations on your new venture and wish you all the best.

[00:02:39]Thank you so much >> and thanks for having me on your show and thanks to your audience as well.

[00:02:42]>> Thank you. Uh regarding your question uh definitely the vote share may not have increased a whole lot >> but between 2017 and 2022 as you saw >> we got two MLAs >> right >> and from 2022 till 2027 now >> right >> uh see all this time we were talking about Delhi model Punjab government now we have actually shown in Benalim and Wim what we can do for Goa so we have kind of demonstrated created the Goa model.

[00:03:14]>> So I think that is our one of our biggest asset besides the fact that of course Punjab you know we formed the government at the same time as we got our two MLAs in Goa >> and that government is delivering as fantastically as the Delhi government did. So at a national level as well and at a local level even though we are not in the government you know uh everywhere I go people know about Captain Wenzy Vegas and engineer Cruz Silva and the work they have done. So I think we have been able to demonstrate to Goans that we can deliver a Goa model in Goa that is sorely required you know and that uh that is not just what we have done in Delhi and Punjab which is education, healthcare, uh electricity, water but also things like farming, jobs you know uh all those things and even protection of land you know I think uh uh most people uh every MLA I think even Mr. Vishujit Ran has taunted even some opposition MLAs key tumoy fi asak and all that two MLAs that he has never been able to point such fingers to are captain wenzi and engineer cruz so as far as you know protecting our land and our environment I think we have shown uh commitment and leadership on that as well all this while staying in the opposition and working under immense pressure of a very uh aggressive BJP government. Well, Vick, I I take your point. These are these are very commendable points and there is no dispute on the fact that you do have two MLAs who've kind of been the voice of the opposition at least in those areas and this and that point is very welting. Uh the the the query that I have and that's something that needs to be kind of addressed or discussed uh well because it's an important discussion. See both Wenzi and Cruz have done well in a heartland congress bastion or what used to be a congress bastion undoubtedly if you look at look at whe also see whe I mean once a person has won he deserves to be congratulated and he's done well I mean with absolute respect we take that on board and we admit it there's no problem with it but however what happens here is that in if you see there was a deep fragmentation of the anti-BJP vote see the BJP got 1,000 odd votes so BJP is not a factor in but you had you know the the the TMC coming in and then you had others as well see the TMC got the Congress got about 5,221 votes so you know it was barely a little few votes less than uh less than what you all got then TMC got about 4,134 votes and RGP got about 3,600 votes so all of this you know so there was a big fragmentation though Cruz got 5390 votes which is good but the but the anti-BJP vote got completely fragmented did and there was no BJP at all. So what really happens is but this kind of fragmentation can work either way in any election because these are very small numbers. So unless AP or any party that wants to be a credible opposition and an honest opposition, it has to ensure that the fragmented antiBJP votes coming come towards up otherwise this issue that's my question one secondly if you look at Benoli and besides these two constituencies of course you all did well in shodda but you had a madam nag there that's why you know the sh your shodda performance wasn't bad also but the question that I have is see what you did did in Delhi and what you did in Punjab was phenomenal because you got an overwhelming majority the upswept.

[00:06:47]The issue is for Goa to replicate the Delhi model or a Punjab model you need to have a very strong all Goa presence.

[00:06:55]See right now the app has pockets of influence but apart from certain parts of Saled it should even first have a south Goa presence then have a north goa presence. So what are what are you as president going to do that because what happens is to win elections you there are so many factors that come in and two seats won't do >> correct correct and if you see u our model in contesting all assembly elections in any state for that matter >> we always give like we were born out of a movement right so we wanted to give an alternative to the mainstream politics of BJP and Congress >> right >> so whether in Goa or any other state we have always given a complete package For example, if you saw in 2017 or in 22, we contested all 40 seats, >> right?

[00:07:40]>> We gave a CM face. We gave a good manifesto in the form of Kijwal's guarantees. So basically, we offered to the people like an alternative package where if they press the broom button, this is what you would get for 5 years.

[00:07:55]There would not be any fighting for the CMC. There would not be any u you know ambiguity as to what our agenda is going to be, what our ideologies. So people would have a clear idea of what they would get for the next five years if they press the broom button and that worked wonderfully in Delhi and in Punjab. Unfortunately not in Goa. I take that point and we have been working uh on those things. Uh I would not go by just the performance of 2022 or even the ZP uh for the reason that we have made a very strong connection with the people of Goa through our you know uh outreach and our work. For example, uh during COVID, you know, I think Ahmadi party was on the ground all over Goa, you know, our our ration ration distribution, our oxyter distribution, oxygen concentrator. Uh I would get calls from, you know, constituencies of the CM and the health minister asking if we can help them with oxygen cylinder. I mean Ahmadi party had become sort of like a you know reliable uh source for for help during COVID. Even recently you might have seen you know we opened a lot of uh healthcare clinics we did a lot of medical camps. So our outreach to the people has always been there and uh as far as the cater is concerned that is something that you know I am taking personal responsibility for. I'm going constituency by constituency. Of course I'll be the first to admit you know there are constituencies where we have uh you know 8 10 volunteers only. There are some places where we have 80 and 100 volunteers. So uh based on that we will have our strategy for 2027 and u but like I said our first choice will always be to provide an alternative package because I think people of Goa have also seen and been betrayed by you know all the parties you know and I think uh uh 2027 I think we will reveal our final campaign and strategy shortly. Yeah.

[00:09:57]Well, you see the thing is uh you know in 2017 and we all agree that 2017 there was a there was a op up sentiment that was flowing throughout Goa. We there's no no doubt about it. In fact I still remember the first rally that Mr. Kjal addressed at Kal uh at at the ground there and I mean there were an absolute outpouring of public sentiment you know it was packed and all that and one actually there was beginning to feel that this change is really going to happen. you know there were people moving all over with caps and jarus and all that and undoubtedly there was this goodwill my point is between 2017 and 2026 now in these 10 years why has that goodwill and I'm not saying app is to blame for it it is quite possible the people of go themselves are to blame for it but in from between 2017 and 2026 why has that you know surge of hope and surge of aspiration belief that there's going to be a great change why do you think that has is not really fratified.

[00:10:54]Is it because of the nature of politics in Goa? Because see in 2022 as you said that there's so much of good work that you all did. Okay. Now I'll just give you and I'm looking at data because data just helps us understand ourselves better. Nothing else you know after 20 after the uh last covid elections happened again here. Okay. And there you see even in south go seats like fata you all got 1,50 votes in Margo you got 1,173 votes in ke you all got 315 votes now the issue is if you compare the goodwill that app has on the ground and balance that with the actual votes that you all have got in certain constitutes there is a mismatch if you see as and you are one of the one of the very steadfast politicians who's remained to the ground been loyal to the party seen the party completely I'm just asking you more as a political analyst rather than our president. Why has the goodwill not translated into a sheer numbers of votes on the ground?

[00:11:50]>> That's a good question and I think that boils down to a booth organization. You know, we were a new party. It took some time for us to build up our organization and the places where you mentioned that we did well you know we were able to build up that booth organization and that is what the task you know I'm taking very seriously now where I'm going constituency by constituency. uh we recently declared you know the presidents of our various verticals the youth women OBC ST minority so u using those verticals you know we are really expanding our organization structure and this time we're confident that you know that goodwill and that connection that we have made with the people I think it at the last minute somewhere you know not having that booth organization the booth worker who's able to bring that voter out that's where uh we we fall we fell short by a little bit and I think that's what I'm working on very seriously now so I I believe that in 2027 we will be able to convert that goodwill into votes as well >> fair also one more thing is that you know while did beautifully in in north India in Delhi and Punjab but we must understand uh that in both these places spoke the language of the people in terms of the actual language I'm talking of Hindi or or perhaps Punjabi in in you Was there a language problem with Goa?

[00:13:14]Because what happened was in the first year especially when the organization was just getting built up. You had some local leaders but a lot of the leadership came from there uh meetings were addressed. Uh obviously Mr. Kal spoke in the languages most comfortable in all the senior leader leaders who came do you feel that also see what happens is South Korea and especially Salet is your natural connect because of the policies that you have and because of the the stands that you take. So obviously you know for for quote unquote liberal parties South Goa and Salset would be a natural bastion because of the nature of the populace in those areas.

[00:13:48]>> Okay. Now now the point is but when when people move in there and you know and the outside Carter speaks in Hindi talks to people in villages in Hindi that leads to a bit of a disconnect even though there is a sentiment towards what the party feels. How have you managed to correct that? Because that in a sense that in 22 22 you may have been able to correct it because you had local leaders and you all kind of did well in certain pockets. How do you kind of correct the basic impression that the app the is a Delhi party?

[00:14:22]>> That's an interesting question. I think 2017 was what happened was um >> you know see like I said we were a very small party. We are a very small party.

[00:14:31]>> Wherever the party fights, elections, you know, uh the AP fans from all over India converge there to, you know, make the party win.

[00:14:39]>> I've campaigned in Delhi. You know, people are from Goa have gone to Punjab.

[00:14:43]So when 2017, you know, we took Goa very seriously. We contested 40 seats. We had a CM face. We had a manifesto.

[00:14:51]>> Our app volunteers came from all over India. They were not invited. uh they just came out of the love for the party and the law for >> a for sure >> and uh of course uh that was misused and you know taken advantage of by the opposition to say that oh these guys are you know don't have anybody locally they're bringing people from outside but that was not the case at all and uh we took that feedback and you know consciously in 2022 we built up a local cater for 2022 u so definitely we have taken feedback and you know improved on that uh definitely I think I don't think language was a problem per se >> but see like I said we were we came out of a revol of a of a movement of a revolution and whoever came on board you know they became the leaders for example I was never into politics before you know I was just attracted by by the leadership of Mr. servant kiwal and the hope for a new change and that's why I joined you know so that way whoever joined they became leaders and you know some people spoke mainly in English some in cony but uh like you said definitely I don't think anybody spoke in Hindi on our platform in Goa for sure no I'm not talking of the goss here I'm talking of people who a lot of people came in from one side to help >> right >> and they obviously spoke in Hindi because that's the language they were most comfortable in >> correct >> during those interactions there must have been a bit of a unease I'm not saying there was there was rejection the but yet you all did well then it's not that you all did do well in pockets but I'm just talking about about that but I'll kind of flip this a little bit uh while this outside thing also happened I'll tell you something else that has happened which was I feel better in 2017 and not as good as in 2017 and what I'm referring to is that in 2017 you had a lot of people who were not traditionally from political families there were people who were professionals they were lawyers There were family members of the congress who also were uh were were contesting in on you had you know you you had people in everywhere from kuch to kortali to so many other places across Goa we found that a lot of your candidates were either first- timers they were doing other things but they just jumped in you know for the love of it and y'all of course gave tickets to them and so you all didn't really go and have to do politicking to get tickets and see who's who's available but a lot of people you know there was an upsurge and and undoubtedly the the quality and the profile of the candidates that you had in 2017 was absolutely fantastic. Okay, you don't need to say it the everybody knows it.

[00:17:27]Have you felt that from 2017 to 2022 the same kind of people uh you know young professionals others somebody coming coming from abroad others the same kind of people who jumped into the app bandwagon with gusto and said yes we will contest do you feel the percentage of that profile has gone down and if yes why has that happened >> you know I think uh first of all it's not easy to do what you know AB does which is alternative politics So when we came first in Goa in 2017 there was a lot of enthusiasm a lot of people joined us and uh many of them contested and you know like you said there was a hope that things might change and there would be a lot more seats that we would have won.

[00:18:11]>> Unfortunately some people uh didn't take the results as well and they themselves dropped out you know so that is one reason why we have less you know completely new uh people on board.

[00:18:24]Definitely uh in 2022 we took some decisions as well that maybe people saw us as too much of a new party you know almost nobody you know had a political background you can say even our CM face Mr. Elvis Gomes you know he was known as a as a is officer and not as a politician okay so we took some decisions like we got Mr. the Madave Nik on board, Alina Sana, some experience, you know, as well to add to the to the youth and the and the new flavor.

[00:18:54]>> So, uh we took those decisions, but uh in the end, I'm happy that, you know, it is our uh hardcore volunteers like Captain Wenzy and Cruz that actually won.

[00:19:06]So uh we've been able to show that it is possible you know to achieve victory without the usual you know tricks that most parties resort to especially you know money power and muscle power as well as you know show that like today when there's defections in Goa what is the first thing they say they say we have to join the government for development but today we are proud to say that you know both our MLAs have done development in their constitution by staying in the opposition and they've actually closed the doors for anybody else now in the future in Goa who wants to jump to the BJP in the name of development. They'll have to admit that they've just been bought out or they have some, you know, skeletons in the closet that they're scared of.

[00:19:51]>> One more thing and and I'll talk about you, you know, when I've seen you as a as a foot soldier working up the ranks then, you know, contesting elections in a tough I would call it a market. Penjim pen politics is a market a tough market like pen. Okay. So the thing is but you know why did it take so long for a grassroot person like you to become president? See for instance would you agree that earlier on some of the choices of leadership or little ad hoc or little knee-jerk getting somebody from outside and just making the person president has that also kind of impacted impacted the party? Honestly, I know you'll you'll have the have other disciplinary constraints to talk about, but I mean, you can certainly be, you know, speak from your heart a little bit. Do you feel and I'm not saying that you wanted the presidentship, it came to you and you deserved it, but keeping yourself out of the equation, do you actually feel that some of the top picks and decisions that were that were taken on introspection, they could have been taken differently?

[00:20:51]>> U not really. Like I said, you know, uh we were we came out of a movement, you know, we didn't come here to become MLAs or presidents, but whatever task we were given, you know, we we fulfilled it. And we had some amazing presidents. Our founding president was a lady Rajri Nagar from Margo.

[00:21:09]>> Then we had where is Raj now?

[00:21:12]>> Yeah, she's uh you know, she was one of the persons who you know felt a little disappointed that the people didn't respond to you know in 2017.

[00:21:20]>> That's my point. I mean somebody like Rajushi Nagasha is not with the not with you all now as in >> she's not away from us either. Not like she's joined some other party. She's just disappointed and questioning herself whether alternative politics can work in Goa.

[00:21:33]>> Reason for a disappointment that's a good test case. What was her reason for disappointment? Well, the fact that we didn't get uh any seats, you know, I think the two seats that we got in 2022, if we had gotten 17, even three, four seats if we had got, we could have done a lot better in 2022 and today there would have been, you know, hope for a >> but do you feel people like Rajarri and can can still come back? I mean in the sense do they do they see a revived hope in this situation?

[00:21:58]>> No, definitely. In fact, uh, you know, I'm still in touch with Rajri. I'm still in touch with Mr. Rahul Mamre. All of them performed fantastically you know as presidents and uh like I said I never aspired for the post of presidentship and when the party told me that you know you have to take it this time you know I took it on and bes besides that the work I'm doing is uh still the same I used to uh my my focus has always been to build the party you know like I've been I've been with the party from day one so my focus has always been you know having having birthed this party to make it grow you So the work is still the same. It's just that the title is different now.

[00:22:38]>> Okay. I'll go go into the topic of one elephant in the room that is alliances.

[00:22:43]Uh you actually have made one a very very clear statement on the 12th of January 2026. This on that day what you said was our is open to an opposition alliance for the 2027 assembly elections and you specifically mentioned Congress Gua Forward Party and Revolutionary Go's party. I'm holding you to that statement. Of course, other statements have been made. Are you holding on to that statement?

[00:23:07]>> Uh most definitely because u you know I think be going beyond party lines I think as a Goan our priority has to be Goa >> and the way the BJP has been running Amak you know destroying Goa and governing in the worst way possible. uh and the sad fact that they won they win with only 30% of the vote share and 70% of Goans's vote against them >> you know from 2017 2022 the results you see they have not got a mandate to govern yet they are forcing themselves you know on the people of Goa so just to save Goa from the Batya Jantaa party I think um you know this an alliance seems to be the only way forward but like I said with Who alliance with who?

[00:23:57]>> No definitely I think like I said that 70% has to come together >> specifically if you say alliance which are the parties that you would need >> so definitely uh Ahmadi party congress uh RGP and Goa forward those are the four parties that you know have the most significant vote share and the MLAs right now in the opposition. So I think uh they have to be part of this alliance and the reason I say is that the 70% has to come together because I think we cannot get away with an alliance government of 22 MLAs 23 MLAs BJP will not let that government stand for even 5 days right we need a 35 plus government alliance government in Goa we have to reduce BJP to low single digits only then you know this government will last for 5 years and that's what happened in Delhi and uh Punjab also despite their best efforts they could not break our government in Delhi and Punjab because people had given just a thundering majority.

[00:24:55]>> I can your points are very very valid.

[00:24:58]Uh let me admit on that but I can flip this argument also just to make the discussion more interesting. Okay.

[00:25:05]See, ARP is a party which has its own own values, own ideals, the way it does work. It has consistently spoken about the ills of the Congress. The other two parties are relatively new. So, I'm not but mainly the ills of the Congress.

[00:25:21]Congress is the is the Maharaja of defections because though BJP is the perpetrator of defections, the it's ultimately buying from the Congress.

[00:25:33]Okay, it's buying congressman right now.

[00:25:36]When you say that you need 35, you are also admitting that you'll be aligning with a party that is prone to doing deals with the BJP. So if from 35 you're saying okay it'll be difficult to pull out but if you're doing say maybe 23 they'll pull out. So you are in your in your subconscious in the back of your mind also knowing that the very party with with whom we ally with or suppose you you are in alliance there'll be a particular constituency where you'll not feel your field your candidate because congress has a candidate right and then in that situation you may suddenly have a situation where five 6 7 10 10 MLAs who you supported in those constituencies are doing a deal and backing out so willy-nilly yall are yall are becoming uh you abbiters in that overall exercise of defection.

[00:26:26]>> No, absolutely. And that is something I think the Congress needs to you know build confidence in both the alliance partners as well as the people because right now they have to go back to the people and ask for their votes. You know last time they went to temples, masjids and churches and you know swore uh that they would not defect and yet it happened again. So they have to build that confidence with the people as well as the alliance. Which is why which is why I was a little surprised by your latest statement which I wanted to obviously ask you is you have said it on a couple of occasions. Correct me if I'm wrong where you said it has to be a congressled alliance and you said because it's principal oppos opposition party it has to be congressled alliance and up will be a part of the congressled alliance willy in the sense that what is the justification in giving congress the leadership position knowing your stand on what the congress does in terms of dealm >> no not just in defections I'll tell you about the alliance dharma which is you know uh one of the biggest uh reasons why an alliance can fail or succeed.

[00:27:30]India alliance worked because all the parties worked very well together.

[00:27:35]You know, Congress went from 50 Lok Sabha seats to 99 seats only because of you know India.

[00:27:41]>> Undoubtedly. Yes.

[00:27:42]>> And unfortunately after India Alliance they backstabbed all the parties that had helped them. you know they they backstabbed us in Hana in Gujarat in Delhi was you know pretty much the last straw where they actually celebrated our loss and celebrated the BJP's win. uh and not just nationally I'll tell you about Goa ZP there was an alliance only between Congress and Goa forward where nine seats were given to Goa forward out of which two was something called a friendly fight but after the elections Vijay Sardesa himself came out and made a statement that not just two but all nine seats were friendly fights which it basically implied that Congress had betrayed even the Goa forward in all nine seats so that is an issue and I'll tell you even more if you want where if we have an alliance with Congress now it won't just be the second time in Goa after Lok Sabha it will be the fourth time that we are aligning with Congress in Goa first was the 2017 Punji bipole >> where Girish Chrankar was uh the candidate against Manor Para I stepped out of the race okay second time was the 2021 CCP uh you know elections where we had an alliance with Congress and some BJP rebels to oust the BJP panel And uh wherever we were strong we found that Congress had put proxy candidates and I have personally seen Mr. Girish Chunker the person who I seeded my seat in the bipole campaigning for the proxy candidates. So this is the level to which there is an untrustworthiness with the congress when it comes to alliance yet we're saying that we are ready because right now Goa is priority. I believe strongly that if the next 5 years go back into the hands of the BJP, I think u there will be little left of Goa to save.

[00:29:31]>> So what you're essentially saying is that you're ready to be a spouse who will go back to a bad marriage rather than have a have a BJP BJP with >> some sometimes you have to make adjustments you know so the child is not traumatized and you know the child grows up to be a healthy individual.

[00:29:46]>> But again but okay I take that point but then why does Congress have to lead it?

[00:29:51]Suppose some other party leads it. I it can be anybody. I'm one one can toss a coin. I'm not saying the Congress should not lead it. But why are you why are you saying that it has to be a Congressled which obviously >> No, I that you know then the Congress automatically assumes that the chief minister is there. Let's put it this way.

[00:30:08]>> No, I didn't mean it in that way. What I meant is that you know Congress has got the highest vote share consistently. you know even though it has reduced in the last few elections >> they are the only party which has crossed 20%, you know >> they have got the highest number of MLAs >> so you know I believe that as a as a older party and a party with a higher vote share and higher number of MLAs even though many of them have finally defected >> it rests upon them to make the you know take the initiatives to form this alliance finally how many seats who will get has to be discussed on the table and to me like even the January statement if you see for me I think even before we talk about seed sharing my priority like I keep saying you know Goa is the priority so we have to make sure two things one is that this alliance government lasts for 5 years >> and secondly it does something different for the next 5 years than what has happened in the 15 years so the common minimum program has to be the first point of conversation >> I believe that >> you mentioned about the CMP I was about to ask you that Correct. So I think that will also lead to a bit of uh team building where I think we should go to the people get their feedback on the common minimum program be responsible as a team as an alliance you know and then we get to seat sharing. I think we will be a lot less selfish and you know aggressive about seat sharing once we go through that exercise of team building.

[00:31:35]Do you see a possibility again it's a hypothetical question but during election season everything is hypothetical. Do you see a hypothetical situation where the uh Congress is not giving you as much trust and confidence as it should? Okay. In that kind of a situation is AP willing to look at a non- Congress antiBBGP alliance meaning go forward RGP and up >> definitely like I said um you know whatever alliance discussions have to happen have to happen now. It cannot be kept at the last >> that was my last question. it it is already too late.

[00:32:10]>> Yes.

[00:32:11]>> Because uh you know we have seen Congress declare candidates literally on the last day of nomination.

[00:32:17]>> I think we cannot be allowed to be in that situation when it comes to alliance. It has to start now and I think uh the ifs and buts will present themselves as the discussions start and when they start and how they proceed. So but like I said >> our priority is to give people confidence that this is the combination that will form the next government and do good for Goa. If that includes Congress well and good. If that exclude Congress well and good. Like I said the priority always will be Goa. Okay. Now one last uh question on on this part of the alliance. Now all along you your stand has been very clear but if you look at the statements made by Arvind Kjali all along whenever he's been here and elsewhere he has never really spoken about alliances explicitly or even implicitly he has consistently spoken about as the next alternative uh he's spoken of the Delhi model ex when was in power he's spoken of the Punjab model and wherever he has gone even during his recent visit uh and I know because I I spoke to people in Karapur also recently when when he had gone he spoke very clearly about but about about backing up up on his own and bringing up to par well as a political leader that that will be his stand but don't you think that kind of kind of contradicts or is slightly at odds with what you're saying >> uh that's not an issue only with Ahmadi party that is an issue with all the national parties which is basically Congress in this case you know uh it's just that Rahul Gandhi doesn't come to Goa or speak that often about Goa. So we assume that you know he's agreeing with what Goa Congress is saying. But uh definitely I think uh at the state level once we hash things out and we can present you know uh to our national leadership whether in Congress or in Ahmedadmi party I think we will be able to come to an agreement. Of course, like I said, uh going by the history, you know, it's not the most encouraging or, you know, optimistic thing to look forward to, but like I said, uh I think all political parties, opposition political parties in Goa today should do whatever it takes to keep the BJP out.

[00:34:33]But isn't it also an admission uh for AP and others should also also admit isn't it also an admission that each of these parties individually in spite of having a little local card leadership have failed to be a all Goa presence there this none of these parties Congress may be a bit of an all more of an all Goa presence but if you look at the seats they hardly have MLAs everywhere and they are now reduced to three neither the AP nor the Gua forward nor the RG if you look at all these parties in spite of their best effort efforts they've not been able to become a very strong allgoa presence for each of these parties to give it confidence to taking a shot on its own because that's what you would ideally like to do >> correct yes no definitely I think u you know Ahmadi party at a national level even though we are a national party we have not expanded as much you know >> no but in Delhi see in Delhi you did enough to win Delhi on your own and swept Delhi you got 100% literally in Punjab for a big state like Punjab you all had you know did enough to get Punjab on your own. Goa which is a much smaller state. See again don't take it as a criticism of HP. It could be it is it could be a criticism of the way the voter dynamics plays out in Goa and and you know extra constitutional things that happen on the on the eve of elections. I completely put it down to that. I'm not not saying but the fact remains is that a party which could get Delhi and and could get Punjab why is it struggling to even you know tie up with parties who it who it implicitly does not trust just because it does not have a base all throughout then that is a that is a worrying factor not not about a but about about Goa Goa in general.

[00:36:11]No, absolutely. I think uh everybody thinks Goa is an easy place to you know fight elections because of the number of votes but it is actually the most complicated if you have seen so many other national parties come and fail you know whether it is the GDU or the TMC you know uh Goa definitely Ahmadi party is taking very seriously you know Mr. Urban Kwal comes here more often than any other national leader and uh we are working on that you know we truly believe that you know uh Goa is right for Ahmadi party and Ahmadi party is right for Goa we want to make that happen at some point but for 2027 like I said we are working uh Mr. The Kijiji like he said he has made very clear statements that the first preference is always that we form the government on our own but if coming closer towards the election if that does not look possible then we will make the adjustments required to keep the BJP out of power under any circumstances.

[00:37:10]>> Last question there has to be a cut off before decisions are made. As you very rightly said, you cannot have a situation where on the last day of nomination, somebody's rushing to pick up his form and then he's going to going going to some place to become the party member and then he goes goes to become you know the but there has to be a cut off because to the best of my knowledge elections are going to be advanced >> and if it if it's advanced then there's very little time. The monsoon period is a is a you know it's very little work that happens there because monsoons do impact grassroot work and then the festival season starts and so on and so forth. when when is the when will you all actually sit across the table and speak and if the Congress is not taking an initiative what will AB do AB cannot keep on waiting AB also needs to take an initiative and reach out to other parties >> no absolutely um you know I think if you want a specific date we're in June you know 18th of June is Goa revolution day I think that would be a good day for you know like I said I feel that Congress being the senior party in Goa must take that initiative and maybe on June 18th through or medium I call upon you know my counterpart Mr. Figures stood to call a meeting of all the party presidents of you know who can be part of this alliance and at least let's get it started let us see where it reaches if we don't start then we will never get anywhere that is option one >> yes >> can there also be an option two when wal mkinak uh ves parab because mano sorry ves bora because manosab is not there and uh uh and we just have the sai meet can that also be an option >> definitely I I think uh like I said if it does not start within this month we will definitely start contacting all the parties and depending on the response we'll take it forward >> all the other non- congress parties also.

[00:38:58]>> Yes. Right. Right. Okay.

[00:39:00]>> Okay. Uh Walak thank you so much for uh you know for your time and as always for your very honest and explicit detailing of what you intend doing. Uh we we we hope that your dreams come true and and Goa becomes a better place.

[00:39:15]>> Thank you so much for your time.