There is a lot going on in the Goa Congress as Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar has written to the party high command demanding disciplinary action against Congress MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira over what he describes as repeated acts of anti-party behaviour.
In a letter dated July 11, 2025, addressed to All India Congress Committee (AICC) Goa Desk in-charge Manikrao Thakare, Patkar accused Ferreira of actions that have “demoralised party cadres across Goa” and raised serious doubts about his commitment to the Congress party.
The letter comes just a day after Ferreira was seen attending the birthday celebration of BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral in Curchorem—an event organised by the BJP’s local mandal. The incident has triggered sharp reactions within the party, given that Cabral is considered a close political rival of Patkar.
"On July 10, 2025, Congress MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira was seen participating in a birthday celebration hosted by BJP Curchorem Mandal for their MLA and former minister Nilesh Cabral,” Patkar wrote. He called Ferreira’s attendance at the event “unfortunate” and a “blatant violation of party discipline,” especially at a time when Congress is strongly opposing the BJP-led government in the state.
Patkar also highlighted that just three days before the BJP event, the Congress had organised an outreach programme in Curchorem, which Ferreira skipped.
“By choosing to ignore a party initiative and instead attend a BJP gathering in the same constituency—where we narrowly lost by 600 votes in the last election—Carlos Ferreira has sent a deeply demoralising message to our grassroots workers,” Patkar added.
The GPCC chief also referenced a prior complaint, noting that a detailed report on Ferreira’s conduct had already been submitted to the then AICC Goa in-charge Manickam Tagore in December 2023. Despite internal efforts to address the issue, Patkar said Ferreira’s actions have continued to defy party norms.
“His ongoing public engagements with BJP leaders while serving as a Congress MLA severely undermine our political credibility and confuse the public about the party’s stand,” Patkar concluded, urging the high command to take immediate disciplinary action.