The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Goa got a jolt on Saturday as two senior leaders of the party joined the Congress.
Trajano D’Mello, senior vice-president and spokesman of the NCP, and Nilkanth Halankar, former Minister and ex-president, along with 12 executive members of the party joined the Congress with their over 300 supporters. Former Chief Minister and leader of opposition Pratapsingh Rane, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro, former MLA Agnel Fernandes, and MLA Pandurang Madkaikar were present at the Congress house.
“The BJP-led government in the State had failed to keep its promises of containing inflation, creating employment, removing casinos, changing regional plan (State land use plan), controlling drugs, and getting special category status for Goa,” said Mr. Faleiro, and added that the BJP would have to face the people’s wrath as they are frustrated with the misrule of the last four-and-a-half years.
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“We are likeminded people and we have decided to work as Congressmen. We are happy to see that people are joining the party,” said Mr. Rane. Stating that the secular credentials of the Congress were beyond doubt, Mr. D’Mello said though the NCP has been an offshoot of the Congress, “our ideologies have been the same and we had always treated the Congress as an elder brother. Today’s step is nothing but joining of heart, soul and mind.’’
When asked whether the leaders who joined the party on Saturday were promised tickets in the next Assembly elections, Mr Faleiro said there is no question of promising tickets. “They have come on their own and we have welcomed them with open hearts. There are many more who think their ideology matches with us. The ticket is not given, it is earned,’’ said Mr. Faleiro.
GPCC president said there was no promise to the new leaders on giving tickets