Viresh Borkar

Viresh Mukesh Borkar (born 29 June 1993) is an Indian politician, activist, and businessman who has served as a member of the Goa Legislative Assembly, representing the St. Andre constituency since 2022. He has served as the national president of the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) since July 2026 and is one of the party's co-founders. He previously served as president of the RGP from 2021 to 2023, before being succeeded by Manoj Parab.

Early life Viresh Mukesh Borkar was born on 29 July 1993 He has an older brother, Nitesh, an automobile engineer-turned-farmer, and a younger brother, Saiesh. Borkar completed his Higher Secondary School Certificate in 2010 from Fr. Agnel's Higher Secondary School, Pilar, Goa. As a student, Borkar participated in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement.

Borkar's grandfather, Dattaram Pandhari Borkar, was a first-generation farmer

In his electoral debut at the 2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election, Borkar won the RGP's first seat in the assembly by defeating four-time MLA and former sports minister Francisco Silveira of the Bharatiya Janata Party by a margin of 76 votes. He became the youngest legislator (28) to be elected to the assembly since Mauvin Godinho (25) and Victor Gonsalves (27) were elected in 1989.

Borkar claimed he won the election without relying on money power. He was also the only MLA with a net worth of just , while all other legislators were crorepatis (millionaires). road conditions, migrant-related concerns, and the lack of basic amenities within his constituency.

Evictions from the House and international travel Borkar first came to the limelight with his introduction of the POGO (Person of Goan Origin) Bill during an Assembly session, which had been one of his party’s core issues prior to the elections. He initially issued a notice in July 2022; however, the Government of Goa deemed it unconstitutional. In July 2025, Borkar moved the private member’s bill again during the Monsoon Assembly session, where it was rejected by members of the ruling party. He was later evicted from the House for seeking a definition of "Goan origin". In 2023, Borkar was marshaled out of the House by the then Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Tawadkar, for protesting over the River Mhadei issue.

In January 2026, Borkar undertook an international study tour to the United Kingdom. The tour also served as an outreach effort to thank his Goan voters and to introduce his party to the Goan diaspora. He visited areas with a significant Goan population, including Swindon, Bridgwater, Southall, Hounslow, Wembley, and Scotland. In Swindon, he notably visited Swindon Borough Council and Swindon Central Library.

2026 indefinite hunger strike In February 2026, Borkar led an indefinite hunger strike opposing the conversion of of land in Palem-Siridao village in his constituency from a non-settlement zone to a settlement zone under the provisions of Section 39-A by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department. The protest soon grew, with other opposition leaders and common people supporting Borkar's demands that the provisions of Section 39-A of the TCP Act be scrapped permanently in Goa.

Among those who supported Borkar were fellow opposition legislators Yuri Alemao, Vijai Sardesai, Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Altone D'Costa, Venzy Viegas, and Cruz Silva; and activists and politicians such as Manoj Parab, among others. Borkar ended the hunger strike on the sixth day after the Government of Goa suspended land conversions in his constituency.

Personal life In April 2020, Borkar, then a member of the NGO Revolutionary Goans (RG), had his Mahindra Thar set on fire by unknown individuals. He subsequently filed a complaint at the Pernem Police Station.

Borkar resides in Wada Bhat, Neura, Goa.