Serzeqy at 08:17, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T08:17:42Z

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{{Short description|Indian politician and teacher}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Girish Chodankar
| image = Girish Chodankar at Congress House 2021.jpg
| caption = Chodankar at [[Goa Pradesh Congress Committee|GPCC]] headquarters, 2021
| birth_name = Girish Raya Chodankar
| birth_date = 25 July {{Birth based on age as of date|50|2017|8|23}}
| office1 = [[All India Congress Committee#In-Charges|AICC in-charge]] of [[Tamil Nadu Congress Committee|Tamil Nadu CC]] and [[Puducherry PCC]]
| term_start1 = 14 February 2025
| predecessor1 = [[Ajoy Kumar]]
| office2 = AICC in-charge of [[Tripura PCC]], [[Sikkim PCC]], [[Manipur PCC]], and [[Nagaland PCC]]
| successor2 = [[Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/rahul-gandhi-social-justice-aicc-reshuffle-caste-obc-faces-9838523/|title=In echo of Rahul Gandhi's 'social justice' pitch, AICC rejig balances castes, pushes for OBC faces|date=17 February 2025}}</ref>
| term_start2 = 23 December 2023<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tripuratimes.com/ttimes/girish-chodankar-appointed-tripura-cong-incharge-13330.html|title=Girish Chodankar appointed Tripura Cong incharge|website=tripuratimes.com|access-date=2024-04-08|archive-date=2024-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408075932/https://tripuratimes.com/ttimes/girish-chodankar-appointed-tripura-cong-incharge-13330.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| term_end2 = 14 February 2025
| predecessor2 = Ajoy Kumar
| office3 = [[President (government title)|President]] of [[Goa Pradesh Congress Committee]]
| term_start3 = 26 April 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/Apr/26/girish-chodankar-replaces-shantaram-naik-as-president-of-goa-congress-1806753.html|title=Girish Chodankar replaces Shantaram Naik as President of Goa Congress|date=26 April 2018|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=8 April 2024|archive-date=8 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408083946/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/Apr/26/girish-chodankar-replaces-shantaram-naik-as-president-of-goa-congress-1806753.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| term_end3 = 15 March 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/girish-chodankar-quits-as-goa-congress-chief/article65226856.ece|title=Girish Chodankar quits as Goa Congress chief|first=Shoumojit|last=Banerjee|date=15 March 2022|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
| predecessor3 = [[Shantaram Naik]]
| successor3 = Amit Patkar
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|teacher}}
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]<br/>(since {{circa|1989}})
| alma_mater = {{ubl|
* [[Annamalai University]] ([[B.Ed]])
* [[Goa University]] ([[M.Com]])}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Sunita Chodankar|1998}}
| signature = Girish Chodankar signature.svg
| website = {{URL|facebook.com/GirishChodankarGoa}}
| module = {{Listen
| embed = yes
| filename = Girish Chodankar 2021.ogg
| title = Girish Chodankar's voice
| description = Chodankar in response to three [[MLA (India)|MLA]]'s joining the [[Indian National Congress]] party.<br>Recorded 8 November 2021
}}
}}

'''Girish Raya Chodankar''' (born 25 July 1966 or 1967) is an Indian politician and teacher who serves as the [[All India Congress Committee]] (AICC) [[All India Congress Committee#In-Charges|in-charge]] of [[Tamil Nadu Congress Committee|Tamil Nadu CC]] and [[Puducherry PCC]] since 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-02-14 |title=T.N. and Puducherry Congress units get new AICC in-charge |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-and-puducherry-congress-units-get-new-aicc-in-charge/article69220949.ece |access-date=2025-03-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He previously served as the [[President (government title)|president]] of the [[Goa Pradesh Congress Committee]] (GPCC) from 2018 to 2022. A former [[All India Congress Committee#AICC office bearers|AICC secretary]], in 2023, he was appointed as a [[Congress Working Committee#Permanent Invitees|permanent invitee]] of the [[Congress Working Committee]] (CWC).

==Early life==
Girish Raya Chodankar was born on either 25 July<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferreira |first=Carlos Alvares |date=25 July 2023 |title=Happy birthday to our young, dynamic and youthful leader Girish Chodankar |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/rNL5jPW8YffTVdeX/?mibextid=xfxF2i |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Facebook}}</ref> 1966 or 1967<ref>{{Cite web |title=Girish Raya Chodankar(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- PANAJI : BYE ELECTION ON 23-08-2017(NORTH GOA) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/goa2017/candidate.php?candidate_id=292 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=myneta.info |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408072224/https://myneta.info/goa2017/candidate.php?candidate_id=292 |url-status=live }}</ref> to Raya Chodankar. He obtained his [[Master of Commerce]] (M.Com.) degree with a specialization in [[Business Management]] from [[Goa University]] in 1990. Subsequently, in 1993, he completed his [[Bachelor of Education]] (B.Ed.) degree with a focus on [[Commerce]] I & ii from [[Annamalai University]] in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=":3" />

==Political career ==
Chodankar began his political career with the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC), assuming the role of booth president for the [[Comba, Goa]] booth in [[Fatorda]] during the period of 1989–1990. He subsequently rose through the ranks of the party, holding positions such as [[general secretary]] and president of the Fatorda Block Youth Congress Committee. In 2018, Chodankar's contributions were recognized when he was appointed as the [[President (government title)|president]] of the [[Goa Pradesh Congress Committee]] (GPCC). Chodankar's political involvement began in 1995 when he successfully contested the [[Margao]] [[Municipal council (India)|Municipal Council]] election and secured a seat representing the Comba [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]]. In 1998, he assumed the position of general secretary of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (GPYCC).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2018-04-27 |title=Party has acknowledged hard work of an ordinary worker: Girish |work=The Navhind Times |url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2018/04/27/goanews/party-has-acknowledged-hard-work-of-an-ordinary-worker-girish/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408185138/https://www.navhindtimes.in/2018/04/27/goanews/party-has-acknowledged-hard-work-of-an-ordinary-worker-girish/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Chodankar served as the president of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 2000 to 2008, further solidifying his involvement to the party's [[youth wing]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2018 |title=Girish appointed GPCC chief |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/m/details.php?n_id=130066 |access-date=7 April 2024 |website=[[O Heraldo]] |archive-date=8 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408080759/http://www.heraldgoa.in/m/details.php?n_id=130066 |url-status=live }}</ref> Before being appointed to the highest decision-making body of the Congress party, Chodankar held the position of a [[All India Congress Committee#AICC office bearers|secretary]] in the [[All India Congress Committee]] (AICC).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chodankar appointed as 'special invitee' of Congress Working Committee |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/chodankar-appointed-as-special-invitee-of-congress-working-committee/articleshow/102881195.cms |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408080855/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/chodankar-appointed-as-special-invitee-of-congress-working-committee/amp_articleshow/102881195.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> He assumed this role in June 2013 and worked closely with the office of [[Rahul Gandhi]], a prominent leader within the party. Prior to his tenure as AICC secretary, Chodankar was stationed at the AICC [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|secretariat]] in [[New Delhi]] from 2011 onwards. Chodankar's responsibilities extended to his position as the AICC [[All India Congress Committee#AICC office bearers|in-charge]] of the [[National Students' Union of India]] (NSUI). During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in establishing and strengthening student bases in various states, notably achieving success in [[student council]] elections at [[Delhi University]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2013-06-18 |title=Former Goa Pradesh Youth Congress chief appointed AICC secretary |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/former-goa-pradesh-youth-congress-chief-appointed-aicc-secretary/articleshow/20638463.cms |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408073228/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/former-goa-pradesh-youth-congress-chief-appointed-aicc-secretary/articleshow/20638463.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2017, Chodankar was selected to be a part of the AICC committee established by Rahul Gandhi. The committee's purpose was to choose the president of NSUI using an open application process.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ghadyalpatil |first=Abhiram |date=2017-08-28 |title=Panaji bypoll: Meet Girish Chodankar, who gave Manohar Parrikar a good fight |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/OBgAgUJxXyrCdeoAfqbkkL/Panaji-bypoll-Meet-Girish-Chodankar-who-gave-Manohar-Parr.html |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=mint |language=en |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408072243/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/OBgAgUJxXyrCdeoAfqbkkL/Panaji-bypoll-Meet-Girish-Chodankar-who-gave-Manohar-Parr.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Chodankar served as the chief of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (GPYCC), where he played a pivotal role in mobilizing the support of young individuals to strengthen the party's foundation at the grassroots level and facilitate the reconstruction of the party organization. Throughout the period of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s (BJP) governance in [[Goa]] from 2000 to 2005, Chodankar actively engaged with the government on various matters, even in instances where senior [[party leaders]] refrained from confronting the then [[Chief Minister of Goa]], [[Manohar Parrikar]].<ref name=":1" />

Chodankar has participated in multiple elections as a candidate representing the [[Indian National Congress]]. In the [[2002 Goa Legislative Assembly election]], Chodankar contested from the [[Margao Assembly constituency]]; however, he was unsuccessful in securing victory, as he was defeated by the BJP candidate, [[Digambar Kamat]], with a margin of 4,744 votes, consequently placing second.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Assembly Elections Statistics |url=https://ceogoa.nic.in/appln/uil/PreviosElections.aspx |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=ceogoa.nic.in |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801111916/https://ceogoa.nic.in/appln/uil/PreviosElections.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, during the 2017 [[by-election]] for the [[Panaji Assembly constituency]], Chodankar faced defeat against the BJP candidate, Manohar Parrikar, with a margin of 4,803 votes, thereby finishing in the second position.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 August 2017 |title=By-election results: Manohar Parrikar wins Panaji, big win for AAP in Delhi |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/by-election-results-manohar-parrikar-wins-panaji-congress-leads-in-bawana-117082800113_1.html |access-date=7 April 2024 |website=[[Business Standard]] |archive-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407232650/https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/by-election-results-manohar-parrikar-wins-panaji-congress-leads-in-bawana-117082800113_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, Chodankar also participated in the [[2019 Indian general election in Goa]], vying for the [[North Goa Lok Sabha constituency]]. In this election, he faced defeat against the BJP candidate, [[Shripad Naik]], with a substantial margin of 80,247 votes, ultimately securing the second position.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Goa Constituency Lok Sabha Election Result: Candidates Profiles, Map, Total Votes, Past Results {{!}} Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/lok-sabha-constituencies/goa/north-goa |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The Times of India |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320003045/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/lok-sabha-constituencies/goa/north-goa |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following his defeat in the 2017 by-election against Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister of Goa at the time, Chodankar characterized the outcome as a dignified conclusion to a formidable struggle. He expressed pride in being selected as a candidate by his party and embracing the challenge of competing against a serving chief minister, as well as contending with the resources and support of the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chodankar considered his fight to be honorable due to the Congress party's commitment to democratic values by actively engaging in the [[electoral process]].<ref name=":2" />

As of April 2018, Chodankar is employed as a teacher at a [[higher secondary school]] in [[Curchorem]].<ref name=":0" /> In preparation for his [[election campaign]] in 2019, Chodankar announced his intention to highlight the deficiencies of Shripad Naik, a four-time [[Member of Parliament]] and the Union Minister of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). During his campaign, he initiated a bicycle journey through different districts in [[North Goa]] as part of his strategic efforts to connect with voters in the region.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kamat |first=Prakash |date=2019-04-01 |title=Girish Chodankar files nomination from North Goa |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/girish-chodankar-files-nomination-from-north-goa/article26706260.ece |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408072253/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/girish-chodankar-files-nomination-from-north-goa/article26706260.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
On 15 November 1998, Chodankar married Sunita,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chodankar |first=Girish |date=15 November 2023 |title=Happy Anniversary dear Sunita... |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/cgLjNoxuRTApJ1XU/?mibextid=xfxF2i |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Facebook}}</ref> a private [[insurance agent]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Girish Raya Chodankar(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- NORTH GOA(GOA) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/loksabha2019/candidate.php?candidate_id=9056 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=myneta.info |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408140837/https://myneta.info/loksabha2019/candidate.php?candidate_id=9056 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of December 2023, he resides in the [[Gogol]] suburb of [[Margao]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AICC Office bearers In Charges |url=https://inc.in/aicc-office-bearers/in-charges |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Indian National Congress |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221134612/https://www.inc.in/aicc-office-bearers/in-charges |url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 February 2021, Chodankar's father, Raya, aged 82, died to [[COVID-19]] at the [[Goa Medical College]] in [[Bambolim]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-02-11 |title=Chodankar's father among two Covid casualties |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/chodankars-father-among-two-covid-casualties/articleshow/80805118.cms |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408075155/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/chodankars-father-among-two-covid-casualties/articleshow/80805118.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Girish's father dies of Covid |url=https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/%EF%BB%BFgirishs-father-dies-of-covid/65539.html |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en |archive-date=2024-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408072223/https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/%EF%BB%BFgirishs-father-dies-of-covid/65539.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chodankar, Girish}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1960s births]]
[[Category:Politicians from Goa]]
[[Category:People from South Goa district]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Goa]]
[[Category:Presidents of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee]]

Girish Chodankar - Revision history

Serzeqy at 08:17, 8 May 2026