‘Had disagreements… but never left’: New AAP Goa chief after party picks founding member as state chief amid turmoil

In a post on X, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Naik and other office bearers. “Goa wants clean politics, jobs for youth and an end to corruption and gundaraj. The people are looking to you for real change,” the post said.

The appointment of the new AAP chief in Goa comes after advocate Amit Palekar was removed from the post last month, following the party’s dismal performance in the zilla panchayat polls. Last Monday, Palekar resigned from AAP, claiming the manner in which he was relieved from the post of president was “unacceptable” and that he was “singled out” for the election performance. In the run-up to polls, Palekar advocated for an alliance with Opposition parties and had been at odds with the party’s national leadership on the issue.

Three more office-bearers of AAP Goa, state general secretary (organisation), Shrikrishna Parab; youth wing president Rohan Naik; and youth wing’s vice president Chetan Kamat, had also announced their exit from the party last Monday.

AAP, which decided to contest solo and opted against an alliance with the Congress and other Opposition parties, won just a single seat in Colva by a slender margin.

On Sunday, after his elevation as the state president, Valmiki Naik told The Indian Express, “There are always ups and downs in any party. I have been with the party for over 13 years, and in that time, it could not be said that I was never disappointed, hurt or disagreed with some of the decisions. I never left the party, because I see AAP as a hope for Goa and for India. So, if there are any issues, I have always taken them up internally, and they have been addressed by the party… I wished that all the people who had any issues with the decision-making…resolved them internally.”

“Today, I see AAP and our style of people-focused governance and corruption-free politics as an urgent necessity for Goa and the country,” he said.

Naik, a founding member of AAP, has been with the party since its inception and was part of the India Against Corruption movement. He was part of the party’s National Council and is currently a national spokesperson. In AAP Goa, he has held several organisational roles in the party, including the posts of General Secretary and working president.

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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