Over a week of back-and-forth within the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) with a series of cryptic posts on social media, party president Manoj Parab finally made an appearance on Sunday, where he went on to elaborately explain the rift within the ranks while refuting speculations of the party winding up, and asserting that the party will contest the 2027 State assembly elections. Parab, along with General Secretary Vishwas Naik and leader Ajay Kholkar, reaffirmed that the party remains united. The talk revolved around internal sabotage, religious divides, control centres, etc.
However, while Parab and team tried to dispel rumours and assert themselves, the schism was as clear as daylight, unresolved. “I literally cried before Viresh Borkar not to allow our party to divide,” said Parab. A show-cause notice has been issued to Borkar because he failed to attend the party’s three successive meetings and for his alignment with Julius Almeida, who was charged for anti-party activities, said Kholkar, adding that they will call the MLA to the party office on Monday and seek clarification. It was alleged that Almeida was campaigning for the removal of Parab as president.
The turmoil engulfing RGP does not look like a temporary disagreement but a deep divide that is irreparable. Going by the tone and tenor of Sunday’s meeting, RGP and its leaders appear to be caught in cross-currents. Over the past few days, the public has been entertained on social media with some colourful but meaningless jargon, a communication that meant little or nothing to thousands of people in Goa and outside who have ensured that the flame of the party, popularly called “Uzo”, is kept burning.
There were allegations flying thick and fast in the form of Facebook posts, charges of corruption, personal attacks, fake group posts, mockery, and members were struggling under the weight of distrust and bruised egos. And as time wore on, it was becoming increasingly clear that the two leaders – Parab and Borkar, who were at the forefront of the party, had fallen apart. The current discord exposes a leadership crisis within the RGP and raises uncomfortable questions about whether the party has been able to evolve beyond personality-driven politics.
The fallout has been especially damaging because the RGP positioned itself as the antidote to precisely this kind of politics. In 2022, the party tapped into widespread frustration with both the BJP and Congress, drawing support from young voters, sections of the Goan diaspora, and communities anxious about cultural identity and unchecked development. Its appeal rested on the definition of a Goan — Mul Goenkar. And it made an impact with a 10 per cent vote share. That credibility now stands badly shaken.
Public sparring and personal attacks have reduced an internal disagreement into an ugly show. Instead of appearing disciplined and issue-driven, the party increasingly looks consumed by internal score-settling, caring less for the followers and well-wishers who have invested their time, money, and energies in the outfit. And this does not bode well for the party going ahead, no matter how convincing Parab may seem to contest elections.
Parab says that the issues were stacked up for the past few years. The question is, why rake them up now? With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, parties are already beginning to shape narratives and consolidate support. For the RGP, the next few months may determine whether it remains a credible regional force or fades into the background like many others. Constituencies where it once showed momentum may not remain patient indefinitely, and certainly, the unease is building up even with the “London” well-wishers.
Followers of the party, at this point in time, may be less interested in knowing whether RGP is contesting the 2027 elections; they would rather want to know whether a “united RGP” is standing up to the Assembly test. It’s high time the party cleared the air over the divide. Ultimately, this is not just a story about two leaders locked in a power struggle. It’s about the trust invested in regional parties.
This is a reminder that movements built on regional pride and public anger cannot survive on sentiment alone. True leaders require organisation, discipline, and the ability to manage dissent without destruction. The RGP was born from the belief that Goa deserved a stronger regional voice, and thanks to public acceptance, the results were visible, and the RGP became an unheard voice of Goans. Whether it can still become that voice depends entirely on whether its leadership chooses political maturity over personal rivalry.
