In a significant setback for the Aam Aadmi Party in Goa, its former state president, advocate Amit Palekar, resigned from the party's primary membership on Monday, January 5, 2026. Palekar's resignation comes just days after he was removed from the top post following the party's drubbing in the zilla panchayat elections last month.
A Resignation Rooted in Principle, Not Anger
In his resignation letter addressed to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Goa state in-charge Atishi, Palekar stated he was stepping away "after much reflection" and "not in anger or haste, but in self-respect and clarity." He emphasized that his entry into public life was not for posts, but for an alternative political culture promised by the AAP—one based on transparency, internal democracy, and respect for grassroots voices.
Palekar expressed deep disappointment, stating it became difficult to reconcile these ideals with the party's current functioning. "When dialogue and consultation are limited, and decisions flow only from the top, it does not weaken individuals, but strains institutions," he wrote, highlighting a central critique of the party's internal mechanisms.
The Trigger: Electoral Debacle and Disagreement
The immediate trigger for the upheaval was AAP's dismal performance in the December zilla panchayat polls. The party, which contested alone rejecting an alliance with Congress and other opposition parties, managed to win just a single seat in Colva by a narrow margin.
Following the results, Palekar had publicly advocated for an alliance with like-minded opposition parties to defeat the BJP, a stance contrary to the central leadership's decision. "I know it could be something that the party may not like, but the party needs to understand Goa's genetics," he had told a regional channel last month. He pointed out that the AAP's alternative model had "somewhere failed" in the state.
Palekar was relieved as Goa AAP president on December 24. Interestingly, the party's state general secretary (organisation), Shrikrishna Parab, who was given the additional charge as president, also resigned on the same day as Palekar.
Political Journey and Future Stance
Amit Palekar, a lawyer and social activist, joined the AAP in October 2021, ending a decade-long association with the BJP that began in his college days. His political roots are deep, with his mother being a former BJP sarpanch of Merces village and a state executive member for over 25 years, and his father a former deputy sarpanch.
Soon after joining, he was declared AAP's chief ministerial face for the 2022 Goa Assembly polls. He contested from the St. Cruz constituency in North Goa but lost to the BJP candidate. He was later elevated to the state president's post in mid-2022.
In his resignation, Palekar stated his decision considered his fellow workers and the people of his St. Cruz constituency. He reaffirmed his belief in a united opposition for the interest of Goa and Goans, signaling his political priorities moving forward.
