A day after becoming Goa Congress president, veteran leader Girish Chodankar addressed concerns over his appointment, describing the reaction as a natural response. He said he would adopt a consultative approach and suggested possible cooperation with other opposition parties ahead of next year’s assembly elections.
Chodankar noted that leadership changes can cause some resentment but stressed that such decisions come from the party high command and are common across political organizations. He added that loyal members would not publicly criticize the party.
His predecessor Amit Patkar expressed surprise at the move, saying he had not been consulted and planned to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Two social media team members resigned, and some local workers voiced dissatisfaction.
Chodankar said talks about a leadership change had been underway for some time. In the 2022 assembly polls, the BJP won 20 seats and Congress secured 11. Eight Congress legislators later joined the BJP, reducing the party’s strength to three.
Despite the challenges, Chodankar expressed optimism about the 2027 elections. He said public anger toward the BJP government creates an opportunity for opposition unity. His priorities include reuniting party workers, strengthening organizational structures, and highlighting government shortcomings on issues such as unemployment and development.
