PANAJI/VASCO
Nationalist Congress Party national secretary Praful Patel on Tuesday announced that the party is gearing up to contest the upcoming Assembly polls in Goa and hinted that the NCP is open for an alliance with a non-BJP, non-Congress party.
The NCP has also brushed aside the possibility of aligning with the Aam Aadmi Party effectively leaving only regional Goan parties and independent MLAs in the kitty.
The national leader of NCP, who is presently visiting the state, said that the restructuring of the party has begun. He is likely to return on November 22 for the next stage of this process.
"NCP used to contest earlier in association with the Congress party. At one point, we had four MLAs and three ministers also in the government. We had supported the Congress government. NCP has gone out of its way to save Digambar Kamat-led government. But unfortunately, the Congress does not respect friends and people who have actually helped it in the past," Patel stated, taking an aim at NCP's former alliance partner.
Patel was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Vasco NCP Block office in the presence of NCP State President and former minister Jose Philip D'Souza and NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao.
Patel said he would also open the NCP office along with MLA Churchill Alemao in Benaulim while the main NCP office in Panaji would be opened on November 22.
"I want to be very clear that we have a Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharshtra and similarly in Goa, NCP can take a lead and we can offer a government even without the Congress”, Patel said.
Patel said while a suitable decision on municipal elections would be taken by local leaders, NCP has already begun efforts to go alone in the upcoming assembly elections.
“We are not bothered about the Congress if they don’t want an alliance with us. If there are other like-minded parties opposing the BJP, we can think of an alliance.”
“There are many independent legislators and tall politicians of various political parties small and big, who are already in touch with us. We can offer an alternative option to the people who are fed up with the BJP," said Patel.
Patel said he was concerned about the lack of tourist activity in the State, which had subsequently affected the state economy and led to unemployment.
"As far as international flights are concerned, many countries have begun allowing people to come by conducting RTPCR Tests and India must also start conducting RTPCR Tests within 96 hours of arrival. This will allow people to come to India and boost tourism activity in Goa and also give good business to hotels," said Patel.
