the goan I network
MAPUSA
“The people of Goa appear to be drifting away from both the main national parties and strongly considering an alternative combination. We will not disappoint Goans. NCP will give Goa a new direction,” said Patel who is NCP’s national general secretary.
He also said that no government can be formed in Goa in 2017 without the NCP.
Patel was speaking at a largely attended NCP convention at Bodgeshwar hall in Mapusa on Thursday evening. NCP’s national observer Sanjeevani Pandey, State NCP President Jose Philip D’Souza, General Secretary, Avinash Bhosle and others were also present.
On the occasion, Nelly Rodrigues was officially appointed as the State president of NCP’s women’s wing and Parsuram Shettye as the spokesman of the party.
The United Bahujans of Goa President and Mapusa resident, Sanjay Barde was also inducted into the party.
Speaking further, he said NCP was a party of progress, vision and a party which will take all sections of the society together.
Leaving the doors of alliance open, he said there was need for like-minded parties to come together to dethrone the disastrous performance of the BJP-led government in the State.
He said mining and tourism, the two mainstays of Goa’s economy, were in bad shape and the State’s financial condition was in precarious condition.
“The number of tourists arriving in Goa has taken a plunge. Drugs and prostitution has given the State a bad name. Tourism industry has taken a bad hit under this government,” he said.
He said BJP-led government is destroying mining industry in Goa.
“Small time truck drivers, garage owners and allied businesses that prospered when mining was on have suffered the most,” he said.
He further said corruption has taken a big leap under the present dispensation and all the talks on zero tolerance towards corruption had gone for a toss.
State NCP President Jose Philip D’Souza told the gathering that the party would strengthen its base in North Goa, just as it has done down in the South.
“People and important leaders are making a beeline to join the party,” D’Souza said.
No party can work with AAP: NCP
MAPUSA: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) General Secretary Praful Patel considered Aam Aadmi Party as a different lot of people and someone who no party could gel with.
“I do not think AAP is a like-minded party to NCP. They are a completely different lot of people. I do not feel anybody can think alike and work with them,” Patel said.
“I think they have already started advertising as if they have formed the government in Goa. Good luck to them,” he added with sarcasm written all over his face.
He said NCP was preparing to contest at least 15 to 20 seats on its own.
“We had contested seven seats in alliance with Congress in the last election. We are not ready to disclose how many seats we want as an alliance partner now. We are getting ready to contest 15 to 20 seats,” he said.
He said the party wanted to tie-up with like-minded parties, including the Congress, but was ready to go alone if things don’t work.
