Chodankar embarked on his political journey within 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 of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC). Chodankar's political involvement began in 1995 when he successfully contested the MargaoMunicipal Council election and secured a seat representing the Comba ward. In 1998, he assumed the position of general secretary of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (GPYCC).[7] Notably, 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.[8] Before being appointed to the highest decision-making body of the Congress party, Chodankar held the position of a secretary in the All India Congress Committee (AICC).[9] 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 in New Delhi from 2011 onwards. Chodankar's responsibilities extended to his position as the AICC 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.[10] 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.[11]
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.[10] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]
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.[11] As of April 2018, Chodankar is employed as a teacher at a higher secondary school in Curchorem.[7] 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.[15]
Personal life
On 15 November 1998, Chodankar married Sunita,[16] a private insurance agent.[6] As of December 2023, he resides in the Gogol suburb of Margao.[17] On 10 February 2021, Chodankar's father, Raya, aged 82, died to COVID-19 at the Goa Medical College in Bambolim.[18] He had been under medical care at the hospital since 17 January from the previous month.[19]
