Pawar told me stick to earlier decision, says Sirsat
Demand Jose’s exit for Mickky’s entry
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 28
State Nationalist Congress Party President Surendra Sirsat said the party’s national supremo Sharad Pawar had instructed him to stick to the earlier decision of dropping Jose Philip D’Souza and inducting Mickky Pacheco into Kamat’s Cabinet. Sirsat returned from the national capital on Thursday after meeting Pawar.
Answering reporters’ queries on his meeting with Pawar, Sirsat said he apprised the former on the recent political happenings within the NCP in the State. “I am told by him to adhere to the earlier stand of dropping Jose for Mickky. This decision had subsequently changed and the high command had demanded for resignation of both Jose and Nilkant Halarnkar.”
He maintained the Congress in the State has never said it will not induct Mickky, but has only asked for time.
Mickky’s entry was stalled by group of 10 legislators led by PWD Minister Churchill Alemao after which the NCP High Command changed its stance and sent a letter to the Speaker to remove Nilkant and Jose as chief whip and leader of the NCP legislature party, respectively, and assign both the posts to Pacheco.
It is learnt, Sirsat, who has held the post of speaker in the past, has written to the Speaker stating the legislature party was subordinate to the original political party and hence the original party’s decision of demand for a change was final.
When questioned whether he had written the letter to the Speaker, Sirsat did not deny the same.
Sirsat said Pawar had also instructed him to strengthen State NCP in all constituencies irrespective of whether it would tie up with the Congress or not for the next coming Assembly elections.
However, when questioned whether he had raised the issue of drug nexus in the State with his national supremo, Sirsat said he was called to specifically discuss the political scenario and as such he stuck to the same.
