PANAJI
Days after members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) executive committee shifted base to the Congress, party president Jose Philip D’Souza said that the move would not make any difference to the party and that the vacant posts would be filled in a week’s time.
Speaking to media persons on the exit of some executive committee members, D’Souza said, “Some of our executive members have joined the Congress. However, their departure from the NCP makes no difference to us. We will fill in the posts in a week's time, as post their departure, people have shown willingness to come forward and join the NCP.”
On changing party focus in strengthening the youth in the NCP, D'Souza said Congress should have focused on poaching members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “It hurts us that the Congress who is like an alliance partner and a party that we do not consider as the opposition has tried to split us by accepting our members into its fold. The Congress should have tried to poach members of the BJP who is the real opposition,” he said.
He further said, “It seems as if the Congress was afraid of the NCP overtaking them, hence they accepted Trajano and Harlankar. I repeat that Goa needs a 'mahaghatbandan' on the lines of the Bihar formula to defeat the BJP.”
While commenting on the exit of Trajano and Harlankar, D'Souza also wished them both all the best, calling it a “new phase of their political journeys".
After resigning as party president, Harlankar did not appear for a single party meeting, said D’Souza adding that his exit did not feel like a loss. “However, we are hurt by Trajano's exit as he was a party worker and chief spokesperson,” he added.
NCP spokesperson Adv Avinash Bhosle stated that out of the 10 members that left the NCP and joined the Congress, eight members were followers of Trajano and Harlankar.
“I do not know what has been promised to Trajano, but Harlankar has been promised a ticket for Tivim. Their departure has been a wake up call for the NCP and hence we are galvanising to strengthen the party.
The NCP national observer Nawab Mallik will be in Goa on Tuesday to discuss strategies for the 2017 State Assembly elections,” informed Bhosle.
NCP leader Praful Patel is also expected to be in Goa in June, informed Bhosle.
