PANAJI
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), Goa’s youngest regional political outfit, is in the throes of a bitter internal feud that spilled dramatically into the public domain on Tuesday.
Party president Manoj Parab, often referred to as the ‘supremo’, has taken to social media with blistering posts targeting several office-bearers aligned with the party’s lone legislator, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar.
The posts, laced with sharp words and accusations of “brainwashing supporters on religious lines,” have laid bare the factional divide within the fledgling party.
Parab’s criticism was directed at North Goa general secretary Licio Roncon, Dagley Fernandes from Salcete, and Michael Queros from Bardez, all known to be close or leaning towards Borkar in the festering internal feud.
In one post, Parab accused them of leaking party emails to a media channel and challenged Borkar to explain.
His supporters, including party general secretary Vishvesh Naik, have amplified the attack online, demanding accountability from Borkar’s camp.
The rift had been simmering for weeks. The flashpoint came with the removal of Julius Almeida, panch member of St Lawrence (Agacaim) and a staunch Borkar supporter.
The RGP’s core committee expelled Almeida, accusing him of anti party activities but the move unsettled grassroots workers in St Andre, where Almeida enjoys local support, and left Borkar visibly upset.
Although Borkar initially sought to downplay the discord, insisting “all is well” within the party, Parab’s latest social media offensive has reignited tensions.
His posts, laced with fiery rhetoric, have underscored the widening gulf between the two leaders and two camps have seemingly emerged aligned to the two leaders.
On Facebook, Parab’s supporters have accused Borkar’s loyalists of manipulation, while Borkar’s camp has remained guarded.
The Congress, meanwhile, has refused to comment on speculation that Borkar may cross over.
State Congress president Amit Patkar and South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes have declined to respond to queries about a possible switch.
Founded in 2017 and registered as a political party in 2021, RGP made its mark in the 2022 assembly elections when Borkar won the St Andre seat, earning recognition as a State party.
Since then, it has positioned itself as a grassroots alternative to Goa’s established players, while championing Goan identity and land issues.
But the current discord unarguably stemming from a personality clash between the party's top two leaders threatens to erode its political pelf and weaken the RGP’s momentum ahead of the crucial 2027 electoral battle.
