Congress Revamps Goa Unit, Appoints Girish Chodankar as GPCC President

New Delhi, May 2026 : The Congress party has undertaken a significant organisational overhaul in Goa, appointing a new leadership team for the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) as it prepares for upcoming political and electoral challenges in the coastal state.

The changes were announced by K.C. Venugopal on behalf of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), with the appointments coming into immediate effect from May 29, 2026.

As part of the restructuring, senior Congress leader Girish Chodankar has been named the new President of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. Chodankar, who has held several organisational responsibilities within the party in the past, is expected to spearhead efforts to strengthen the Congress organisation and expand its political footprint across Goa.

To support the new state leadership, the party has appointed three Working Presidents — M.K. Shaikh, Altone D’Costa, and Carlos Alvares Ferriera. Meanwhile, Datta D. Naik has been entrusted with the responsibility of Treasurer.

The Congress leadership also expressed appreciation for the services rendered by outgoing GPCC President Amit Patkar, acknowledging his contribution to the party during his tenure.

In addition to the state leadership appointments, the AICC has approved a series of key committee positions aimed at strengthening the party’s organisational machinery and election preparedness.

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has been appointed Chairperson of the Campaign Committee, while Member of Parliament Viriato Fernandes will head the Manifesto Committee. Veteran Congress leader Francisco Sardinha has been named Chairperson of the Coordination Committee, with Sunil Kawthankar serving as Co-Chairperson.

Political observers view the reshuffle as a strategic effort by the Congress high command to reinvigorate the party in Goa after facing a series of electoral setbacks in recent years. The reconstituted leadership team reflects an attempt to balance experience, regional representation, and community outreach while building a stronger grassroots presence.

Under Chodankar’s leadership, the Congress is expected to intensify organisational activities, strengthen booth-level networks, and launch issue-based campaigns targeting key voter groups. The new team will also focus on improving coordination between the state unit and the central leadership as the party prepares for future Assembly and parliamentary elections.

The appointments have already generated considerable interest in Goa’s political circles, with many viewing the reorganisation as an important step in shaping the Congress party’s strategy for the next electoral cycle. Additional appointments and details regarding the broader organisational structure are expected to be announced in the coming days.