PANJIM: The Political Af fairs Committee of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday announced Valmiki Naik as the new president of the party’s Goa unit. The committee also ap pointed Gerson Gomes as State Working President, Prashant Naik as State Or ganisation Secretary and Sandesh Telekar Dessai as State Senior Vice Presi dent. The announcements were made by Dr Sandeep Pathak, National General Secretary (Organisation), and Atishi, State Prabhari for Goa. The leadership reshuffle follows AAP’s poor perfor mance in the recent Zilla Panchayat elections. The party had removed Amit Palekar from the post of Goa unit president last month, two days after the election results were de clared. Although no offi cial reason was cited, the decision came in the after math of the party’s dismal showing in the polls. AAP had contested 42 seats and supported one independent candidate in the December 20, 2025, Zilla Panchayat elections but managed to win only one seat. Palekar, a lawyer by profession, had joined AAP ahead of the 2022 Goa Assembly elections and was projected as the party’s chief ministerial face at the time. Before his elevation as State president, ValmikiNaik served as the Work ing President of the Goa unit and as a National Spokesperson of the party. Speaking to reporters after his appointment, Naik said he had been as sociated with the party since its inception in Goa. “I thank the party’s national convener ArvindKejriwal for entrusting me with this significant responsibility. I also thank State in-charge Atishiji for placing her faith in me. I will discharge my duties with full dedication and energy, and work towards strengthening the party organisation,” he said. Addressing recent resignations and internal concerns, Naik said such developments were not unusual in political parties. “Before the ZillaPa nchayat elections, many people joined the party, and more will join in the days to come. We will definitely emerge in a stronger position than where we are today,” he said. Reflecting on his long association with AAP, Naik added, “In my 13 years with the party, there have been moments when I have been hurt, but I never quit. If there are issues, they should be resolved while remaining within the party. I will reach out to those who feel aggrieved and urge them to sort out their concerns from within.
AAP names Valmiki as Goa State chief
