FATODA, GOA: Fatorda could emerge as one of the most closely watched constituencies in Goa ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with political speculation intensifying over a possible three-way contest involving three prominent state-level party leaders.
Sources indicate that Goa Forward Party president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, BJP Goa State president Damu Naik, and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar could potentially be in the fray from Fatorda.
The constituency has gained added political significance as the presidents of Goa’s three major political parties are connected to Fatorda. Sardesai is the sitting MLA and has represented the constituency since 2012, while Naik is a former Fatorda MLA who represented the seat for two terms. Chodankar, meanwhile, is also registered as a voter in the constituency.
A direct contest between the three leaders would set the stage for a high-voltage political battle, bringing together three contrasting political forces—Goa Forward, BJP and Congress—in one constituency.
The possibility of Naik returning to the electoral contest has already generated political interest. In June, the BJP state chief said the party would seek to win Fatorda in 2027, while keeping suspense over whether he himself would contest from the seat.
Congress leader Girish Chodankar has also indicated his intention to contest the 2027 Assembly elections, although he has not publicly disclosed the constituency from which he plans to seek election. His recent statements have further fuelled speculation about the Congress-GFP equation in Fatorda.
For Sardesai, Fatorda remains his political stronghold. He won the constituency in the 2022 Assembly elections and has maintained a strong electoral presence there for more than a decade.
However, the final candidates and electoral alliances are yet to be officially announced. The Congress and Goa Forward Party have also been engaged in discussions over their alliance ahead of the 2027 polls, adding another layer of uncertainty to the Fatorda contest.
If Sardesai, Naik and Chodankar ultimately enter the race against one another, Fatorda could become one of the biggest political battlegrounds in Goa in 2027, with the outcome likely to attract statewide attention.
For now, the three-way contest remains a possibility—but Fatorda is already shaping up as a constituency to watch closely ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.
