Irfan Iqbal Gheta
The Goa Aam Aadmi Party went through a phase of serious churn following the Goa Zilla Panchayat Election 2025. The party failed to leave a mark, with the setback proving so severe that its candidate even lost in the constituency of one of its sitting MLAs. The results triggered deep introspection and widespread uncertainty about the party’s future in Goa.
The AAP high command had invested heavily, both politically and emotionally, in the Zilla Panchayat elections. Party supremo and former Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal campaigned extensively, with the entire top leadership rallying behind the Goa unit. Yet, despite this high-voltage effort and the full force of the party machinery, AAP suffered a comprehensive defeat.
The fallout was swift. Then, state president Advocate Shri Amit Palekar, under whose leadership the party fought the elections, was removed unceremoniously as soon as the results began to come in. His replacement, Shri Bab Shrikrishna Parab, a young and energetic face, did not even last a week in office. What followed was an unexpected twist. Shri Amit Palekar publicly introspected and concluded that it was unfair to single him out for the defeat. He argued that the absence of pre-poll alliances had significantly hurt the party’s prospects. Soon after, he quit the party. In a show of solidarity, Shri Shrikrishna Parab also resigned, sending shockwaves through Goa’s political circles.
Speculation was rife. Was the Goa AAP finished? Could a party seemingly on the brink of disintegration revive itself? Why did state presidents keep changing after every election? And who would now take charge of a demoralised unit grappling with defeats and resignations?
Those questions have now found their answers. Goa AAP has chosen not to look outside for a high-profile face or airlift a prominent professional into leadership. Instead, the party has turned inward, placing its faith in a quiet, soft-spoken veteran who has weathered many storms within the organisation.
Shri Bab Valmiki Naik is the party’s choice for 2026. A loyal soldier who has stood by AAP through its highs and lows, he may not have won an election yet, but he brings with him a deep understanding of the party’s internal workings and ground-level realities. As AAP’s Panaji candidate in the past, he has remained steadfast even when success eluded him.
At this juncture, Goa AAP needs precisely this kind of leadership. Someone who speaks less and works more. Someone with patience, resilience, and steely resolve. The party’s cadre is dispirited, bruised by repeated losses and internal turmoil. Its two first-time MLAs require guidance and stability to navigate challenging political terrain. Among the rank and file, only one leader appears to fit that role.
For Shri Bab Valmiki Naik, this is a moment of reckoning after a long and often agonising wait. The party has finally acknowledged his contribution and entrusted him with its reins. Whether he can revive morale and chart a credible path forward remains to be seen. What is certain is that Goa AAP has chosen perseverance over spectacle. Interesting times lie ahead.
