PANAJI
Nationalist Congress Party on Friday reiterated its stance on forging an alliance with like-minded and secular political parties with the newly appointed NCP observer for Goa, Narendra Verma, hinting that the NCP has warmed up to the Congress over the last month.
State NCP President Jose Philip D’Souza and lone NCP MLA Churchill Alemao were also present at the press conference convened to declare that the party’s new central office will be inaugurated on November 22 at the hands of Praful Patel.
Speaking to the media, Verma stated, “We have been in an alliance with the Congress since our inception. We were a part of the United Progressive Alliance led by the INC for 10 years under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh. Even now, our first preference when we contest would be a respectful seat-sharing with Congress. We do not want the secular votes to get divided and that someone else to benefit from it. I have confidence in both, D’Souza and Alemao, that they will take this forward. Our options are open for an alliance with the like-minded parties.”
He stressed upon the element of “respectful seat-sharing” while insisting that his words do not contradict the statement previously made by Praful Patel in any manner.
It may be recalled that Patel had on October 27 hinted that the NCP is now looking to align with regional parties in Goa which are “non-Congress and non-BJP”.
“Unfortunately, Congress does not respect friends and people who have helped it in the past. Though Goans don't want the BJP, Congress is incapable of forming the government. Now, NCP will see how we can form an alternative government minus the BJP and the Congress. Some other parties and independents are happy to discuss this with us," Patel had stated while also dismissing the possibility of an alliance with the AAP in Goa.
