Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa is facing a leadership crisis, with a slew of resignations from senior party functionaries over disagreements with the national leadership on political strategy in the state.
Rajesh Kalangutkar, who stepped down as AAP Goa’s working president on Wednesday, said his decision came after repeated attempts to convince the party to form an alliance with the Congress to prevent a split in the anti-BJP vote.
“It has become painfully obvious that AAP’s role in Goa is to split the Opposition and indirectly aid the BJP,” Kalangutkar said in his resignation letter addressed to party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
During his visit to Goa earlier this week, Kejriwal ruled out any alliance with Congress, alleging a “nexus” between the BJP and Congress and asserting that a few families have a “vice-like grip” on Goan politics.
Kalangutkar said this unwillingness to cooperate forced him to quit, accusing the party of placing “Delhi’s political ambitions above Goa’s people.”
Youth Vice President Salman Khan also resigned, citing discrimination, Delhi high command’s arrogance, and betrayal of Goan interests.
Paul Lobo, a senior leader from Benaulim, quit along with his supporters, alleging that Kejriwal’s strategy was designed to fragment the opposition vote and give the BJP another term in power.
Lobo further criticised AAP MLA Venzy Viegas, stating that the constituency had seen little development under his tenure.
AAP Goa president Amit Palekar said the resignations were regrettable but defended the party’s decision not to ally with Congress, warning that such an alliance could once again result in a BJP government.
“AAP will instead build an alliance directly with the people of Goa who have suffered from defections and misgovernance,” he said.
The resignations mark a turbulent phase for AAP in Goa, just days after Kejriwal’s high-profile visit, raising questions about the party’s strategy ahead of the next assembly polls.
