Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jan 6: In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa, four senior leaders of its state unit, including former Goa unit president Amit Palekar and acting chief Srikrishna Parab, resigned from the party on Monday.

Apart from Palekar and Parab, Goa AAP youth wing president Rohan Naik and youth wing vice-president Chetan Kamat also announced their exit from the party.

Palekar, who was the party’s chief ministerial face in the 2022 Goa Assembly elections, was removed as state president last month following AAP’s poor performance in the recent Zilla Panchayat elections. The party, which contested 42 seats, managed to win only one, while the BJP–MGP alliance secured 32 of the 50 seats and the Congress won 10.

Srikrishna Parab, who was serving as the state organisation secretary and had been given additional charge as acting Goa unit president, also tendered his resignation on Monday.

In a letter shared on X, Palekar said he had joined AAP believing in its promise of an alternative political culture based on transparency, internal democracy and respect for grassroots voices. “Over time, however, it became increasingly difficult to reconcile these ideals with the way decisions are presently taken and communicated,” he said.

“When dialogue and consultation are limited, and decisions flow only from the top, it does not weaken individuals but strains institutions. For a movement that set out to redefine democratic functioning, this divergence has been deeply disheartening,” Palekar added.

Addressing a press conference, Palekar said the manner in which he was removed as state president was unacceptable. He alleged that he was singled out for the party’s poor electoral performance, while the responsibility also lay with the national leadership. He added that several other issues contributed to the decision of the four leaders to quit.

Palekar has also been at odds with the party’s national leadership over its decision to contest elections independently. He reiterated his belief in a united opposition in Goa to defeat the BJP. “I stand firmly with my belief of united opposition for the interest of Goa and Goans,” he said.

He had earlier called for an opposition alliance following AAP’s heavy defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections in February last year. Recalling the party’s stance during the Lok Sabha elections, Palekar said AAP had stepped back and withdrawn its candidates to support the Congress despite differences over alliances.

Palekar said he would announce his future course of action in due course.