Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Amid growing speculation over a leadership change in the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), the Congress high command has summoned key state leaders to Delhi today for a high-level meeting.
Those called include South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Carlos Alvares Ferreira (Aldona) and Altone D’Costa (Quepem), GPCC president Amit Patkar, and senior leader Girish Chodankar, party sources confirmed.
The meeting, to be chaired by AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, will also be attended by Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare and AICC spokesperson Anjali Nimbalkar.
According to party insiders, the discussions are expected to focus on a possible leadership change in the State Unit. Reports suggest that there is a move to replace Patkar with former GPCC chief Girish Chodankar.
However, the proposal has reportedly triggered discontent among several block presidents, who have voiced their opposition to Chodankar’s return during consultations with Thakare.
Patkar, aged 38, was appointed Goa Congress president in April 2022, succeeding Chodankar after the party’s poor performance in the Assembly elections that year.
While some members of the group maintained that the return of Girish Chodankar has been kept on hold by the party leadership for now, others said that no firm assurance has come from the High Command.
“There’s still suspense in the party about how the developments will unfold,” a senior leader remarked, adding that after the Goa delegation met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru
While the agenda has not been officially disclosed, the gathering signals the party’s focus on strengthening its leadership and strategy in Goa ahead of upcoming political developments.
