Impressed by Arvind Kejriwal’s alternative politics, ‘Revolutionary Goans Party’ founding member Srikrishna Parab joins AAP

In a significant boost to its grassroots strength in Goa, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) inducted one of the state’s most fiery and uncompromising voices of regional identity—Srikrishna Parab, co-founder of the Revolutionary Goans Party—into its ranks on Thursday. The formal induction, done by AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, was witnessed by senior party leaders including Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Atishi, AAP National Secretary and Goa Prabhari Pankaj Gupta, and AAP Goa President Amit Palekar.

With Srikrishna Parab now appointed as AAP Goa’s General Secretary (Organisation), the party has sent a clear message: it is not merely expanding, but doing so with strategic intent, placing credible regional leadership at the forefront of its campaign for ‘politics of work’ in the state.

In a press conference held at the party headquarters on Thursday, senior AAP leader and Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi welcomed dynamic Goan youth leader Srikrishna Parab into the party. Hailing AAP’s unprecedented rise, Atishi said, “In India’s political history, no party has grown as rapidly and as nationally relevant as the Aam Aadmi Party. In just 10–11 years since its inception, AAP has formed governments in Delhi and Punjab, won legislative seats in Gujarat and Goa, and now also has an MLA elected in Jammu & Kashmir. No other political outfit has demonstrated such accelerated and diverse growth across the nation.”

Atishi added that AAP has been chosen by people from vastly different regions, languages, and political issues—disproving the earlier belief that AAP was a Delhi-centric party. “When elections were held in Punjab, AAP emerged as the main opposition party in its very first attempt. In Goa too, people showed trust in AAP by electing two MLAs. Similarly, voters in Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir have also placed their faith in us,” she said.

Welcoming Srikrishna Parab, Atishi highlighted his extensive grassroots work. “Srikrishna Parab is among the founding members and former General Secretary of the Revolutionary Goans Party. He helped establish the organisation across Goa and neighbouring areas. He was among the prominent leaders of the mass protests against the land acquisition for the IIT project. In the 2022 Goa Assembly elections, he contested from Mayem and secured nearly 15% vote share. His decision to join AAP stems from his belief that AAP is the vehicle of real change in Goa. In 2022, the people of Goa elected two AAP MLAs, and the work of these legislators has inspired more youth, activists, and even people from other parties to join the movement for clean governance.”

Speaking on the occasion, Srikrishna Parab thanked Arvind Kejriwal for providing him with a national platform. “Goa is a small state with micro-level issues, many of which are village-specific. Solving these requires sincerity and focus. Around five or six years ago, I began a mission for political change in Goa, inspired by the transformation AAP brought to Delhi by removing the Congress government and forming a people-centric administration,” he said.

He emphasised that his aim was always to shift power from corrupt forces to the youth. “In the last five years, I have led multiple protests and raised issues related to Goa’s identity and land. Everyone knows that Goa is a tourism state known for hospitality. But attacks on the Goan identity have intensified, and I raised these issues—not for political gain but because they affect every Goan,” he said.

Srikrishna Parab noted that while he initially advocated as a civil society activist, he realised that without electoral power, change would not be possible. “I formed a political party because mere protests weren’t enough. We needed a mandate to not only raise issues but resolve them. We didn’t win, but we earned 10% of the state’s vote and emerged as the third-largest party in Goa,” he added.

“Still, we couldn’t bring the systemic change we aspired to. That’s why I’ve chosen to join AAP—Goa’s issues need a larger platform, a national voice. Without AAP, our message wouldn’t reach the national media. Everyone says BJP has ruled Goa for years, but what has it delivered? Recently, a BJP Cabinet Minister publicly said the state’s administration is dysfunctional. That is the strongest certificate of failure—issued not by the Opposition, but by a Minister from within the BJP. This validates what AAP and I have been saying for the past five years,” Srikrishna Parab stated.

AAP Goa President Amit Palekar strongly criticised the rampant corruption in the state. “Goa’s politics has become a cesspool of power and corruption. The situation is so dire that even a BJP Minister admitted that files are only passed after bribes—first taken downstairs, then signed by the minister, and sent back with money changing hands. If a Cabinet Minister admits this, what bigger proof of BJP’s corruption do we need?” he asked.

Amit Palekar announced AAP’s “Mission 2027” and “Vision 2027” for Goa, focused on clean governance, quality healthcare and education, employment generation, and corruption-free development. “We are building our organisation with this mission, and under that vision, we welcome Srikrishna Parab into AAP,” he said.

The AAP Goa State President expressed deep concern about Goa’s unemployment crisis. “Goa’s youth are leaving the state and even the country. Between 5% to 10% of Goa’s population—who hold passports or domicile certificates—have migrated abroad due to the utter failure of the BJP government. Even a job paying ₹15,000 is difficult to find in this prosperous state. Over 10% of Goan youth are unable to find jobs after completing their education.”

Amit Palekar attributed this collapse to the BJP’s last 4–5 years in power. “Their leaders often say that even if they win only 10–15 seats, they’ll buy the rest to form the government. Everyone knows this is a wholesale industry of MLA purchase, and we don’t need to name which party it is linked to. We must end this cycle. AAP will contest all 40 seats in the next assembly elections and build a strong organisation. Candidate selection for these seats will be a focal point, and will take place under the guidance of AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, who has long been associated with Goa.”

AAP’s National Secretary and Goa Prabhari, Pankaj Gupta, said the entry of young leaders like Srikrishna Parab would energise the party. “This will inspire and encourage many others to join AAP. Our two MLAs—Captain Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva from Velim—have shown Goa what principled politics looks like. In the last 2–3 months, I have travelled across the state and met hundreds of people. Everyone says that these two MLAs have delivered more in the last 15 years than any other legislator,” he stated.

The AAP Goa Prabhari added, “We want to tell the people of Goa that AAP is actively looking for more individuals like Amit Palekar and Srikrishna Parab—those who want to bring real change. Goa’s land issue is deeply emotional for people. It’s a small and beautiful state, but its lands are being ravaged, causing widespread anger and frustration. Yet no one listens. Unemployment is equally alarming.”

Pankaj Gupta said the BJP has been recycling promises every election. “Every five years, they promise 10,000 jobs before elections, then forget about them. No action, no skill development, no industrial policy, no implementation. In policy Q&A sessions, when asked what they’ve done for employment through industrial policy, the government has no answers. They don’t even know what they did. Goa now needs stability and transformation—and only AAP can deliver it.”