PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to appoint its vice president Valmiki Naik as the new State president in Goa, party sources indicated on Friday.
The move comes after Amit Palekar quit the party following his removal from the post in the face of the Zilla Panchayat election debacle. The party was left leaderless in the State after General Secretary (Organisation) Srikrishna Parab who was appointed interim president, also quit.
AAP’s Goa in charge Atishi was in Goa on Friday and held a series of consultations with office bearers and cadres to resolve the leadership vacuum. Sources said several names were considered, including Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, working president Gerson Gomes and vice president Prashant Naik. However, consensus eventually emerged around Valmiki Naik, who is expected to be formally announced as the new State president within a day or two.
Naik, a familiar face in Goa’s political circles, has been associated with AAP since its inception in 2012 and is seen as a steady hand to steer the party after the recent turbulence.
Palekar’s exit after the ZP poll debacle where the party only managed to win one seat and retain its approximately 6% vote share, had triggered uncertainty within the party and cadres were pressing for quick resolution to the leadership question.
Atishi’s consultations were aimed at ensuring unity and reaffirming the party’s resolve among the cadre to strengthen base in Goa.
With Naik poised to take charge, AAP hopes to re energize its State unit and sharpen its focus on grassroots issues.
