Neil D’Souza
Every few years, the same question resurfaces around the Aam Aadmi Party. Is this the end? Are mass resignations a sign of collapse? Is AAP finally finished? The answer, if one looks at facts rather than noise, remains a clear no.
This is not the first time AAP has faced turbulence. From Delhi to Punjab to Goa, the party has seen leaders walk out, factions split and critics predict its demise. Yet history shows a consistent pattern. AAP absorbs the shock, reorganises and moves forward. It does not disappear. It did not then and it will not now.
Goa offers a clear example. Ahead of the 2022 assembly elections, several senior AAP leaders in the state resigned. Some crossed over to rival parties. Others chose to step away from politics altogether. At the time, many believed this was the final blow for a party that was still trying to establish itself in Goa. But what followed surprised critics. AAP won two assembly seats, a modest number on paper but significant in context. It marked the party’s formal entry into Goa’s legislative politics.
More importantly, the story did not end there. Since 2022, AAP has steadily expanded its footprint. Its vote share has grown. Its presence in public discourse has strengthened. It has emerged as a consistent opposition voice rather than a fringe experiment. That trajectory matters more than headline numbers.
AAP was never built around one face or one leader. It began as an idea. The idea that politics can be cleaner, more accountable and closer to ordinary citizens. That idea still resonates, especially in states where voters are tired of rotating between the same parties and the same promises. People may disagree with AAP’s methods or choices, but dismissing it as finished ignores the deeper shift it represents.
In Goa, both AAP MLAs have delivered on the ground. They have remained loyal not just to the party but to the people who elected them. Their work in their constituencies has earned recognition across party lines. Even political opponents acknowledge their performance, something that is rare in Goa’s often cynical political culture.
Looking ahead to 2027, the party now needs consolidation rather than panic. Leadership will be key. Goa requires someone who understands the state, commands respect within the organisation and has the energy to rebuild from the grassroots. In that context, Capt. Venzy stands out as a strong, loyal and dynamic choice to lead AAP Goa. His appointment would signal seriousness of intent and long term planning rather than short term firefighting.
For those celebrating today, convinced that AAP is finished, a word of caution is necessary. Politics does not end with resignations or temporary setbacks. AAP has already planted the seeds of alternative politics and governance in Goa. These things take time. Trees do not grow overnight.
So no, this is not the obituary some are eager to write. It is another chapter in a party that has repeatedly shown its ability to survive, adapt and grow. Ignore it at your own risk.
