the goan I network
MARGAO
Setting January-end as the deadline for the UGDP leadership to decide on the question of associating with him to make a regional party a force to reckon with in the State, former Minister Mickky Pacheco on Sunday said he is ready to float a new front to contest the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
The former three-time MLA further made it clear that he would field candidates for the Mandrem and Shiroda by-polls and asserted he would approach the people of both the constituencies to reject the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in the election. He disclosed plans to tour the entire state to seek inputs from the people before charting out a new political future.
Addressing an urgent media briefing, the former minister said talks with the UGDP leadership to revive the regional party has remained inconclusive till date since reports emanating from the regional party affirm that certain leaders were in favour of associating with like-minded parties in the election. “I am totally opposed to the regional parties associating with the national parties. I had discussions with UGDP President Dr Jorson Fernandes, party Secretary General Adv Anacleto Viegas and Adv Radharao Gracias, but I would like to give them time till January-end to decide on how to go about with the revival of the party,” he said, adding “if not, I will float my new political party to contest the coming elections since I do not like to associate either with the BJP or the Congress in politics.”
Saying that Goa should be kept away from the high-command culture, he urged the voters of the State to think wisely and throw out the national parties. These parties are nothing, but slaves of their high commands in Delhi and are not bothered about local issues, he added.
“Goa is suffering largely because we always have MPs from the national parties elected to Parliament. The time is to support regional parties which are Goa-based and think about local interests. The time has come for Goans to consider local parties and throw out national parties. Even if I get 15 or 17 seats I would prefer to sit in the opposition than to associate with the national parties,” he added.
Saying he has always worked in the interest of Goa, Mickky said he has seen how it is difficult to work under the national party leadership which is never bothered about the interest of the State. “I would soon list out the issues concerning Goa and make these my election cry in the coming Lok Sabha elections. We cannot be taken for a ride in the name of national issues,” he added.
Asserting that the national parties are looking at Goa as a product which can be monetized for their own gain, he said, “I want to meet the people of Goa and know what they are feeling. For me, Goans
will not be a product but a family for whom I should be working”.
On waiver of farm loans in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, Mickky lashed out, “Parties should waive farm loans by using money from their party fund and not from the taxes paid by the middle-class people.”
