Goa Congress suspends social media chief Sharmila Siddiqui over internal criticism

The Goa unit of the Indian National Congress has suspended Sharmila Siddiqui, the party's social‑media in‑charge, after she publicly challenged the appointment of Mahesh Mhambre – alleged to have an RSS background – as a party spokesperson by the newly elected state president Girish Chodankar.

Siddiqui said she joined the Congress in 2021 without any personal ambition or family political ties and worked on a voluntary basis. She criticised the party for focusing on photo‑ops and neglecting grassroots organization, and opposed a possible alliance with the Goa Revolutionary Party (RGP), which she claims supports the Prime Minister and the BJP at the centre while courting the Congress in the state. She alleged she was suspended without written notice, later summoned before a disciplinary committee, interrogated for about two hours and questioned about taking the issue to the media.

The party has initiated disciplinary proceedings against her, citing alleged indiscipline, while Siddiqui maintains her statements were made in the Congress's interest.