VASCO
Admitting that an alliance of like-minded parties is required, NCP State President Jose Philip D’Souza, however, stated that the Congress cannot be trusted and said the NCP would field candidates across all its “strong” constituencies with or without an alliance.
Speaking to reporters, D’Souza said party observers would arrive in the State in a week’s time and also hinted that many political leaders, including present and former MLAs and ministers, could join the NCP in the upcoming assembly elections.
“If there has to be an alliance of like-minded parties, the dialogue and discussion should begin now without further waste of time, which has not happened till date. This was the right time for alliance discussions because we can decide on a plan for the upcoming elections,” said D’Souza.
“Though an alliance with like-minded parties is a good option, the Congress party cannot be trusted. When Vijai Sardesai, Prafful Patel and I had gone to Delhi to meet the Congress high command for discussions, they did not go in for an alliance at the last moment and they paid a price for it by losing a golden chance to form the government despite being the single largest party.”
“The Congress should not consider itself as a supreme party and can win all the seats while assuming that other parties are weak and have no voter base in any particular constituencies,” he added.
The NCP state president said the party have some strong constituencies in the State and is in the process to form blocks and appoint block presidents.
“We will also have a general body and executive meeting of core committee members, party office bearers to chart out a plan for the upcoming assembly elections. Our party national leaders, Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel, will visit Goa to take the final call on how we will go ahead.”
“They will also take a call on the entry of many politicians expressing willingness to join the party from various constituencies. They will also decide on an alliance with other like-minded parties.”
“But no matter what happens, our party is all geared up to field candidates in various strong constituencies, if not all constituencies, without depending on alliance and we have almost got a go-ahead from our party leaders,” said D’Souza.
