PANAJI
A leadership reset in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa fell apart within hours on Monday, with two senior leaders and three others resigning in quick succession, indicating deep tensions over control, consultation and internal democracy.
Days after being dropped as the AAP Goa President, Amit Palekar resigned from the party’s primary membership, invoking “self-respect” and a widening gap between the party’s founding ideals and its present functioning.
In an ironic twist, Shrikrishna Parab, who was appointed state president as additional charge after Palekar’s exit, also tendered his resignation, citing similar concerns. Close on his heels, State Vice President Sarfaraz, Goa Youth Wing President Rohan Naik and Office bearer Chetan Kamat also resigned from the primary membership of the party.
In a letter addressed to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Goa desk in-charge Atishi, Palekar said decision-making within the party no longer reflected the democratic and grassroots values that had drawn him into public life, even as he reaffirmed his commitment to Goa.
“I did not enter public life in pursuit of posts or positions. I joined the party believing in its promise of an alternative political culture—one anchored in 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,” Palekar wrote, announcing his resignation.
“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.”
Parab’s resignation, coming soon after Palekar’s resignation, also exposed the depth of disquiet within the state unit. Making his discomfort with Palekar’s removal explicit, Parab said the manner in which the decision was taken violated basic organisational norms.
“Firstly, the process followed to remove Amit (Palekar) from his position and the way it is executed was not acceptable. Such an important organisational decision could and should have been handled in a more transparent, dignified, and consultative manner,” Parab said adding,
“Secondly, before arriving at such a decision, a detailed Zilla Parishad (ZP) level analysis should have been conducted, which unfortunately was not done. This has serious implications for the party’s organisational strength and grassroots morale in the state.”
Palekar was removed from his post after the party’s poor performance in the just-held ZP polls.
Palekar, a prominent face of the party in Goa, said his decision to step away was measured rather than impulsive. “After much reflection, I have chosen to step away, not in anger or haste, but in self-respect and clarity. This decision has been taken keeping in mind my fellow workers, and most importantly, my people of my St. Cruz Constituency,” he said, while expressing gratitude for the platform the party had given him.
