The over 12 years of friendship between Goa Vikas Party Supremo Mickky Pacheco and general secretary Lyndon Monteiro is headed for a split.
Differences between the friends-turned-foes have been simmering for over a year on the question of withdrawing support to the BJP-led coalition government ruling the state.
The GVP had extended support to the BJP-led government headed by Manohar Parrikar soon after the election. Though the party did not got a representation in the Parrikar cabinet, party general secretary Lyndon Monteiro was later inducted as Chairman of the Goa Meat complex.
The Goan tries to find out from the two leaders the differences they had on the continuance of the GVP support to the Parsekar-led government.
*When I was in jail, I had dispatched a message to Lyndon to immediately resign from the chairmanship of Goa Meat Complex. The reason was simple. GVP was unnecessarily attracting the 'BJP' tag because of Lyndon, making it difficult for the party to approach the people in Nuvem and other constituencies.
*Instead of quitting his position, Lyndon avoided me as well as my wife Viola and continued to preside over the affairs of Goa Meat Complex.
*While I and the party continued to be dubbed in political circles as 'BJP' affiliated, Lyndon continued his association with Goa Meat Complex, giving credence to reports that GVP belongs to the BJP team.
*I do not agree that Lyndon got the post as Chairman of the Goa Meat Complex because of him or the party. If that was the case, the post would have gone to party MLA Caitu Silva.
*I have now nothing to do with GVP. My wife has resigned from the party. I have already approached UGDP for my homecoming in the party.
*Individuals do not matter in the party at all. The party is important and not the individuals. The GVP leadership till date has not told me to resign from the Chairmanship of Goa Meat Complex. Hence, there was no question of following the dictates of anyone.
*The Chairmanship of the Goa Meat Complex was offered to me by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar because of me as well as GVP’s offer of support to the BJP-led government. I could not have acted irresponsibly when I was appointed as Chairman because of the party. Mickky was sworn in as a Minister in the Parsekar government because of the party’s support to the government.
*The way Mickky went about in announcing his decision to sever ties with the party ought to have attracted action from the party leadership. We have nothing personal against Mickky. Hence, members of the party have decided to wish Mickky and wife Viola all the very best in their future political endeavour.
