RGP power struggle intensifies; Kholkar faces police complaints

PANAJI
The power struggle in the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) intensified on Tuesday, with rival factions trading fresh blows over organisational control and party appointments.
The party leadership, aligned with its lone MLA Viresh Borkar, issued a statement declaring a series of recently announced block and constituency committee appointments as “unauthorised, invalid and void ab initio.”
The development comes amid an escalating battle for control of the regional outfit, with competing groups claiming authority over party affairs.
In a parallel development, RGP state president Shavina Shirodkar lodged a police complaint at Margao against party leader Ajay Kholkar, accusing him of making derogatory and disrespectful remarks against her. She has also sought a written and public apology from Kholkar. Separately, the party filed another complaint at Anjuna Police Station, demanding stringent action against Kholkar over the alleged remarks.
The latest controversy centres on purported appointment letters dated November 2, 2026, concerning the constitution of constituency committees across Goa. In an official statement, the RGP said it had taken serious note of the letters, which were allegedly issued in the party’s name. The party leadership maintained that the appointments had neither been issued by the office of the state president nor approved by the competent authority.
According to the statement, an official order dated November 3 formally invalidated the appointments with immediate effect. “The purported appointment letters have been declared unauthorised, invalid and void ab initio and shall have no recognition or validity within the organisational structure of the party,” the statement said.
The party further clarified that no individual is empowered to issue appointment letters, constitute committees or make organisational appointments on behalf of the RGP without prior approval and express authorisation from the competent authority under the party constitution.
The order, the party said, is binding on all office-bearers, members and constituent units of the organisation. RGP leadership also reiterated that all committee formations and appointments must strictly adhere to procedures laid down in the party constitution and authorised organisational framework.