Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Benaulim, Venzy Viegas, on Tuesday brushed aside the significance of recent high-profile exits from the party's Goa unit, including that of former state president Amit Palekar. He asserted that the party's core mission to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2027 state assembly elections remains undeterred.
Party Unshaken by Resignations, Says MLA
Addressing reporters, Viegas acknowledged the departures but framed them as part of the natural ebb and flow of political life. He emphasized that the AAP has weathered numerous challenges in the past and would continue to stay the course. "We have seen lots of ups and downs in the party. All these developments that we are now seeing are part of the system. Many may come, many may go, but our goal remains constant," the Benaulim MLA stated.
His comments came a day after four senior AAP functionaries resigned from the party on Monday. The group included former Goa chief Amit Palekar and the acting state president, Shrikrishna Parab. The resignations were reportedly driven by internal discontent over decision-making processes, the handling of Palekar's removal, and the party's strategy after a poor performance in the December 2025 zilla panchayat elections.
Clear Agenda: Countering BJP's 'Divisive Politics'
Viegas clearly defined the party's primary objective in Goa. He stated that the AAP's central agenda is to counter what he described as the BJP's divisive and communal politics. "BJP is creating problems for people. Otherwise, people like me wouldn't have entered politics. Our agenda is to make sure that its communal politics, politics of revenge, is thrown out," he told reporters.
On the specific exit of Amit Palekar, Viegas adopted a conciliatory tone. "When Palekar joined the party in 2021, we welcomed him warmly. We always supported whatever decisions he took as the party president. Now, he has taken the decision to quit and we wish him well," he said. He confidently added that "many things will happen, but the party won't go anywhere. The party is here to stay."
Leadership Turbulence in AAP's Goa Unit
The resignations highlight ongoing leadership instability within AAP's Goa chapter. The party had earlier relieved Amit Palekar from the president's post following the disappointing ZP poll results, appointing Shrikrishna Parab in his place. Parab's resignation now continues a trend of party chiefs stepping down.
This list includes former state convenors Elvis Gomes, who later joined the Congress, and Rahul Mhambre. While Mhambre resigned from his role as a national spokesperson for AAP, he has remained with the party. Amidst these changes, AAP minority wing vice-president Sarfraz Ankalgi has clarified that he has not resigned from the party.
Despite the internal churn, MLA Venzy Viegas's statements project a determined front, aiming to keep the party's focus squarely on its political adversary as the build-up to the 2027 state polls begins.
