After resigning from the post of AAP working president, Rajesh Kalangutkar said, ‘It was a mistake to go alone to Goa’

Panaji, Oct 9 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a setback in Goa ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, with its working president resigning in protest against Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to contest the state elections alone without forming an alliance.

AAP’s Goa working president Rajesh Calangutkar resigned from his post on Thursday in strong protest over party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement during his visit to Goa that AAP will contest the 2027 Goa assembly elections alone.

Speaking to IANS, Kalangutkar, who had contested the 2022 assembly elections on an AAP ticket, said Kejriwal’s decision to “contest the election alone” was wrong and would ultimately benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party by dividing the opposition’s vote share. He confirmed his resignation soon after Kejriwal’s four-day visit, during which the party chief categorically refused to enter into an electoral pact with the Congress or other local parties in the state.

“Going alone in the Goa Assembly elections is a wrong decision and will harm the party,” Calangutkar said.

He warned that the move would split opposition votes, making it easier for the BJP to return to power in the state in 2027.

“If the party chooses to contest the elections alone, leaders and workers may also leave the party after understanding the situation. However, forming an alliance will benefit AAP,” Kalangutkar told IANS.

During his visit, the AAP national convenor had launched a scathing attack on the Congress and repeatedly alleged a nexus between the national opposition party and the ruling BJP in the coastal state. Kejriwal said the Congress “cannot be trusted” and had a history of supplying MLAs to the BJP, claiming both parties were part of a corrupt political system.

The former Delhi Chief Minister directly linked a senior Congress state president to the mining business in the state, saying such operations cannot continue without the Chief Minister’s blessings.

Kalangutkar countered that Kejriwal’s strategy of going it alone and targeting the Congress would send a message of division among the anti-BJP forces.

“People opposing the BJP want a united front. They want change and understand that only a united opposition can defeat the BJP. A repeat of the ruling BJP in the 2027 elections will be disastrous for Goa,” he told IANS.

The former acting president confirmed that he will remain in politics, but has not yet finalized his future move, advocating a consolidated opposition front.

–IANS

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