the goan I network
VASCO
While other political parties in the state are gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the NCP has also begun its preparations in the state, after supremo Sharad Pawar held talks with NCP State President Jose Philip D’Souza and NCP senior leader Dr Prafulla Hede.
Pawar, who arrived in the state on Saturday evening, had talks with D’Souza and Hede in the VIP Airport Lounge and various issues regarding the party work in Goa were discussed. Pawar was also apprised on the present political scenario in the state and also spoke on steps to be taken to take the party forward.
According to D’Souza, NCP will gear for LS polls and will also decide on its future course of action after a top level meeting in Mumbai on June 7.
“The party may also look for an alliance with like-minded parties, including the Congress, to defeat the present MPs in the state,” said D’Souza.
After meeting with Pawar, D’Souza informed reporters that while previous agreements of an alliance with Congress had failed during the last assembly elections, the party felt it was better to discuss the alliance in advance, instead of waiting for the last moment.
“We have briefed Pawar about the political scenario in Goa and I have been invited for a special top level meeting in his office at Mumbai on June 7 where we will finalise the party’s next course of action,” said D’Souza.
Asked if the NCP was still a formidable force in the state, D’Souza replied: “People sometimes feel that the NCP is not active in Goa, but we have a membership of more than 80,000 party workers and we are very strong in some constituencies.”
“We will discuss a possible coalition in meetings at Mumbai and I have requested Pawar that if an alliance is planned, it should start at an early stage. Any candidate finalised should begin work early as we have a considerably large amount of voters in Goa,” said D’Souza.
