PANAJI
Amid the ongoing turbulence within the Goa Congress following the appointment of Girish Chodankar as the new State Congress president, AICC Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakare on Saturday sought to project unity within the party, asserting that no leader has officially resigned and that all Congress workers would ultimately rally behind the organisation's decisions.
Addressing the media after holding his first organisational review meeting with newly-appointed GPCC president and working presidents, Thakare said the party has begun preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections and will undertake a complete restructuring of its organisational machinery within the next 15 days.
Responding to questions on the replacement of Amit Patkar as GPCC president, Thakare said the move was an internal organisational decision and should not be viewed as a crisis.
"Amit Patkar has informed us that he now wants to focus on his constituency of Curchorem. It is an internal decision of the party. Every political party undergoes changes. Such decisions do not affect the party or its loyal workers," he said adding “a loyal worker works to strengthen the party and does not get affected by organisational changes. Everyone has to accept the party's decision”.
Dismissing reports of growing dissent and resignations by some, Thakare claimed he had personally spoken to party leaders and workers.
"I have spoken to everyone. No one is angry and officially no one has resigned from the party. There may be differences and some people may be upset, but that does not mean they will work against the party," he said.
AICC leader said the party's focus would now be on strengthening its grassroots structure and presenting itself as a credible alternative ahead of the next Assembly elections.
He added that the Congress would also set up professional committees to strengthen its outreach and policy formulation.
The party will formally unveil its strategy for the 2027 elections on Goa Revolution Day, June 18. "On June 18, we will announce our plans for the 2027 polls, how we intend to approach the people and the issues that need to be taken up in public interest. We will present a roadmap for the future," he said.
The Congress leader said the party's manifesto for the next Assembly elections would be drafted after extensive public consultations.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao also appealed for unity within the party, saying all Congress workers must place the organisation above individual interests.
"Ultimately, everyone has to fall in line. For us, the party comes first. As days pass, you will see that we stand united. We have to stick together as one unit and work collectively to strengthen the Congress," Alemao said.
Kawthankar’s cryptic post fuels speculation
Even as Congress leaders maintain that all is well within the party, a cryptic social media post by senior leader Sunil Kawthankar has triggered fresh speculation about internal dissatisfaction and groupism.
Kawthankar, who was recently appointed co-chairperson of the party’s coordination committee, is yet to formally take charge of the post. On Saturday, he shared a message on social media stating: “Some people can be fooled all the time. All people can be fooled sometimes. But all the people cannot be fooled all the time. Public sentiments cannot be taken for granted.”
The post comes amid reports of discontent within sections of the party over the recent organisational appointments. While Congress leaders have publicly dismissed talk of factionalism and insisted that the party remains united, Kawthankar’s remarks have sparked political chatter and raised questions over the mood within the rank and file.
While Kawthankar did not directly refer to the party or any individual in his post, its timing has fuelled speculation about underlying tensions within the organisation.
