CONGRESS DOORS PERMANENTLY CLOSED FOR DEFECTORS: THAKARE

CONGRESS DOORS PERMANENTLY CLOSED FOR DEFECTORS: THAKARE

Goy Rakhonn Yatra receives massive response in Calangute; Congress targets Michael-Delilah Lobo and 2022 defectors over political betrayal, drug menace, alleged illegalities and coastal issues

CALANGUTE, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee’s Goy Rakhonn Yatra received an enthusiastic response in Calangute on Sunday, with Congress leaders declaring that the party’s doors have been permanently closed to political defectors and calling upon voters to hold elected representatives accountable for abandoning the mandate given to them.

Addressing the gathering, AICC Goa Desk In-charge Manikrao Thakare, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, former Calangute MLA Tomazinho Cardozo, MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, Working President Sunil Kawthankar, Media Chairman Amarnath Panjikar, Social Media Chairman Himanshu Tivrekar, OBC Chairman Sharad Chopdekar, Minority Chairman Nazir Khan, Mahila Congress President Pratiksha Khalap, Sevadal Chief Rajan Ghate, Youth Congress President Archit Naik, GPCC General Secretary Varad Mardolkar, Calangute Mahila President Carmelin Fernandes, spokesperson Amit Palekar, Yogesh Govekar, Prasad Shirodkar, Agnelo Fernandes, Lorenco Silveira, Walter Lobo, Sudesh Mayekar and other leaders addressed the gathering.

Congress workers and leaders also burnt effigies of the eight MLAs who were elected on Congress tickets in 2022 and subsequently joined the BJP — Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Digambar Kamat, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira, Rudolf Fernandes, Rajesh Faldessai and Kedar Naik. The 2022 shift of eight Congress MLAs to the BJP is documented in contemporary reports. (The Indian Express⁠)

The Yatra traversed the Calangute constituency amid strong participation from local communities. Congress leaders highlighted concerns relating to political defections, the drug menace, alleged illegal activities, prostitution-related concerns, coastal management, tourism and the long-pending problems of local taxi operators.

THAKARE: CONGRESS WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON ITS SECULAR IDEOLOGY

AICC Goa Desk In-charge Manikrao Thakare said the Congress would remain committed to its secular and inclusive political ideology and would not compromise with its core principles.

“Congress has worked across the country with a secular ideology, taking every section of society together. The people of Goa must carry this ideology and tradition forward,” Thakare said.

Referring to the issue of defections, Thakare said voters have the democratic right to question those who seek their mandate on one party’s ticket and subsequently change political allegiance.

Thakare also expressed confidence in Rahul Gandhi’s national leadership, saying that Gandhi’s outreach to people across the country would strengthen his leadership in the years ahead.

CHODANKAR: CALANGUTE STOOD UP FOR GOA DURING OPINION POLL; IT CAN LEAD AGAIN

GPCC President Girish Chodankar launched a sharp attack on the politics of defections and specifically targeted Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, whom he described as being at the centre of the 2022 defection episode.

“Michael Lobo was at the centre of the 2022 defection. Eight MLAs who were elected on Congress tickets ultimately joined the BJP. Congress has been fighting against this politics of defection since 2022, and we will continue to stand with the people against political betrayal,” Chodankar said.

Recalling the historic Opinion Poll, Chodankar said Calangute and its people had demonstrated their commitment to Goa’s distinct identity during one of the most important democratic movements in the state’s history.

“Calangute has always shown the way when Goa needed to be protected. During the Opinion Poll, the people here stood up to safeguard Goa’s identity. I believe Calangute can once again lead a democratic movement by holding defectors accountable through the ballot box,” he said.

Chodankar said Congress would stand firmly with voters who wanted accountability from elected representatives.

He also made allegations concerning the functioning of the coastal belt, including allegations of ‘hafta’ collection and political patronage, and claimed that the Chief Minister had subsequently deployed his own people in the area. These were allegations made by Chodankar during his address.

YURI ALEMAO: CALANGUTE-SIOLIM DESERVE ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao raised concerns over the drug menace, prostitution-related activities and alleged illegalities in the Calangute-Siolim coastal belt.

Alemao alleged that the local political leadership had failed to adequately address issues affecting residents and the tourism sector.

He criticised Michael Lobo’s political functioning and alleged that governance had become centred around a narrow political and business interest rather than the broader concerns of the people.

“Tourism must create opportunities and prosperity for Goans. But development cannot come at the cost of Goa’s identity, environment, safety and the livelihood of local people,” Alemao said.

He also highlighted the long-pending concerns of local taxi operators, stating that their livelihood issues must be addressed through a transparent and accountable system.

Alemao said Congress would take these issues directly to the people of Calangute and Siolim.

“NO RETURN FOR DEFECTORS”: CONGRESS REITERATES STAND

Congress leaders reiterated that those who were elected on Congress tickets and subsequently abandoned the party would not be welcomed back into the Congress.

The party said the political mandate belongs to the people and that voters must be given an opportunity to question representatives who change parties after elections.

The Goy Rakhonn Yatra, which is travelling across Goa’s 40 Assembly constituencies between September 22 and October 18, is focused on issues concerning Goa’s land, identity, environment, heritage and future generations.

Congress leaders said the response in Calangute had strengthened their resolve to take the campaign to every constituency and place local issues before the people.

Pratiksha Khalap compered the programme, while Carmelina Fernandes proposed the vote of thanks.

The Calangute leg of the Goy Rakhonn Yatra concluded with a cultural programme.