Split in Goa Congress? New state chief calls it BJP's game plan to divide votes
A public notice to register the Goa Congress Party has sharpened dissent within the Goa Congress after Girish Chodankar's appointment. The Congress said that the move is a BJP-backed attempt to split secular votes, even as Chodankar denies any split.
The Goa Congress appears to be heading towards a split after internal dissent intensified over the appointment of Girish Chodankar as the new president of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), sources told India Today TV.
Amid the growing rift, a group of party members has issued a public notice proposing the registration of a new political outfit, the Goa Congress Party, signalling the possibility of a formal breakaway from the Congress.
Sources said the Goa Congress unit has remained deeply divided since Chodankar's appointment, with a section of disgruntled leaders now moving ahead with plans to launch a separate party.
Responding to the development, the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the move to split the opposition vote ahead of the Assembly elections.
In a statement, the Goa Congress said Chodankar had recently warned that the BJP was planning to float a new 'secular' party in the Salcete region with a budget of Rs 100 crore to divide Congress and secular votes. The party claimed that the emergence of the proposed Goa Congress Party had validated that prediction.
"First it was 'Save Goa', then 'Goa Vikas Party', and now the so-called Goa Congress Party — all sponsored and propped up by the BJP to split anti-BJP secular votes.
"These are not genuine political parties. They are temporary proxy outfits created with BJP money and political machinery. They will exist only for a few days and disappear after the elections, exactly as their predecessors did," Chodankar said.
The party further said BJP leader Vikas Prabhudesai had exposed what it described as the ruling party's "Mission Salcete", and alleged that the BJP's silence on the issue amounted to an admission of its involvement.
Reiterating its charge, the Congress leader accused the BJP of attempting to divide secular votes through money, political influence and proxy parties. The BJP has not responded to these allegations.
"Vikas Prabhudesai has boldly exposed BJP's Mission Salcete. The BJP has maintained complete silence on this -- no denial, no clarification. Their silence itself is the biggest admission. The people of Goa have become wise to these dirty tricks. The BJP's desperate attempts to divide secular votes using money, power, and proxy parties are no longer a secret. Goans have already decided -- the change is imminent," Chodankar added.
In a post on X, the senior Congress leader also rejected claims of any split in the party, adding that any attempt to spread rumours will not succeed.
"Let me make one thing absolutely clear: there is no split in the Congress. The party is united, stronger than ever, and steadily expanding its support across every region of Goa. Attempts to spread rumours and create confusion will not succeed," he said.
The Goa Congress appears to be heading towards a split after internal dissent intensified over the appointment of Girish Chodankar as the new president of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), sources told India Today TV.
Amid the growing rift, a group of party members has issued a public notice proposing the registration of a new political outfit, the Goa Congress Party, signalling the possibility of a formal breakaway from the Congress.
Sources said the Goa Congress unit has remained deeply divided since Chodankar's appointment, with a section of disgruntled leaders now moving ahead with plans to launch a separate party.
Responding to the development, the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the move to split the opposition vote ahead of the Assembly elections.
In a statement, the Goa Congress said Chodankar had recently warned that the BJP was planning to float a new 'secular' party in the Salcete region with a budget of Rs 100 crore to divide Congress and secular votes. The party claimed that the emergence of the proposed Goa Congress Party had validated that prediction.
"First it was 'Save Goa', then 'Goa Vikas Party', and now the so-called Goa Congress Party — all sponsored and propped up by the BJP to split anti-BJP secular votes.
"These are not genuine political parties. They are temporary proxy outfits created with BJP money and political machinery. They will exist only for a few days and disappear after the elections, exactly as their predecessors did," Chodankar said.
The party further said BJP leader Vikas Prabhudesai had exposed what it described as the ruling party's "Mission Salcete", and alleged that the BJP's silence on the issue amounted to an admission of its involvement.
Reiterating its charge, the Congress leader accused the BJP of attempting to divide secular votes through money, political influence and proxy parties. The BJP has not responded to these allegations.
"Vikas Prabhudesai has boldly exposed BJP's Mission Salcete. The BJP has maintained complete silence on this -- no denial, no clarification. Their silence itself is the biggest admission. The people of Goa have become wise to these dirty tricks. The BJP's desperate attempts to divide secular votes using money, power, and proxy parties are no longer a secret. Goans have already decided -- the change is imminent," Chodankar added.
In a post on X, the senior Congress leader also rejected claims of any split in the party, adding that any attempt to spread rumours will not succeed.
"Let me make one thing absolutely clear: there is no split in the Congress. The party is united, stronger than ever, and steadily expanding its support across every region of Goa. Attempts to spread rumours and create confusion will not succeed," he said.
