PANAJI
St Andre MLA, Viresh Borkar, who hitherto had stayed silent and aloof in the ongoing Revolutionary Goans Party’s (RGP) internal feud being played out loudly on Facebook, stepped in directly on Thursday intensifying a crisis that is threatening to split the political outfit.
His cryptic social media post on Thursday signalled his entry into the dispute, even as the St Andre Block openly backed him against senior party leaders.
The clash, simmering for weeks, has now erupted into a full‑blown confrontation between grassroots workers and some of the party’s top brass, including president Manoj Parab and General Secretary Vishvesh Naik.
The RGP's Sant Andre Block on Thursday issued a strongly worded letter condemning remarks made by Parab, Naik, and treasurer Ajay Kholkar against Borkar.
The block accused the three leaders of making defamatory and baseless allegations against Borkar, his aide Licio Roncon, and his MLA office staff.
It further charged that despite Borkar being targeted for over a month through fake Facebook accounts, the party leadership failed to act. The letter also claimed that accusations leveled by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) against the Sant Andre Block had deeply hurt the sentiments of grassroots workers.
The block said it had urged Borkar to boycott all meetings of the CEC until the differences are resolved amicably.
The statement added that Parab’s social media posts suggested he had no intention of settling the dispute. The statement marked the most open display yet of factionalism within the party.
Meanwhile, Julius Almeida, a senior leader at the center of the controversy, offered a guarded response when approached by reporters at the Pilar Junction in the St Andre constituency which Borkar represents and is an RGP stronghold.
“Everyone can see what is happening on Facebook. I will not comment on the current situation. My focus is only on work,” he said, refusing to be drawn into the storm.
Adding fuel to the fire, Borkar himself appeared to step into the conflict with this cryptic social media post: “First came the issue of Article 39(A), now its side effects are visible,” he wrote, without elaborating.
The remark triggered speculation across political circles, with many linking it directly to the ongoing feud. Though no official reaction has yet come from other party leaders, the post has been widely discussed online, intensifying the sense of crisis.
The RGP, which has sought to position itself as a new force in Goan politics, now faces a serious challenge to its credibility and survival. The rift between committed grassroots workers and senior leadership has raised questions about the party’s future.
While cadres insist on their loyalty to the cause the party stands for, the growing mistrust of leaders threatens to derail the organization at a critical juncture ahead of the 2027 general election.
