Chandrakant Kavlekar

Chandrakant Kavlekar, often referred to as Chandrakant "Babu" Kavlekar, is the Indian National Congress-associated political heavyweight from Goa. He was born in a family residing in Quital-Quepem, a village far away from the city and poor, where he experienced a hard life and worked as a little boy to help feed the family. His connection with grassroots people was through his background and was the reason for guiding his political approach.

Kavlekar was aided by continuous local engagement and stepped up to be a leader in South Goa. He has been a member of the Goa Legislative Assembly from the Quepem constituency for several terms, with a strong voter support varying from one period to the next. His elections have also been the defeat of the BJP candidate Prakash Velip and his coming back for the third term consecutively as MLA.

Kavlekar has had a long political career with one of the most distinguishing records being that of three terms served as a Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly, which was later followed by a fourth win at the polls, successively reflecting public support. He has, besides winning elections, taken up legislative and leadership responsibilities in the Assembly that are of a wider nature.

He has been appointed Leader of Opposition in the Goa Legislative Assembly, where, besides party coordination, he is also responsible for overseeing legislative strategy. His organisational responsibility across seven constituencies has also been given to him, thus confirming him as a major player in the Congress party in Goa.

As of 2025, Kavlekar is still the man in Goa politics that nobody can ignore. He is engaged in legislative organization and party leadership as an active participant.