vasco: Reiterating that like-minded parties should unite to ensure the defeat of BJP, NCP State President Jose Philip D’Souza said he did not want to divide Congress votes and hence, had refused to field candidates in the by-polls, except in Mapusa.
“I always insisted that like-minded parties must unite for a greater cause and this time, it must be to ensure the BJP is defeated. There are bypolls in Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa, but I did not place any candidates except in Mapusa, as the NCP candidate there has been a party loyalist and has taken up issues of the people,” D’Souza told reporters.
“We did not field candidates for the LS polls either. I had received calls for tickets from prominent leaders in Shiroda and Mandrem, but I didn’t want to destroy Congress votes. I am sure Congress will win both LS seats in the State,” said D’Souza.
