Why did I leave GVP & GSRP?
MP: I wanted to come back to a regional party that always was a force to reckon with. I have been with national parties. All these national parties have no interest in Goa. Even before you want to raise a point of concern for Goa at the Centre, your mouth is shut. So, I found that nothing is going to change. Being a part of a national party means you have to only listen to their leaders and their understanding and perception of Goa. I realised that nothing is going to happen to these Delhi leaders. So, if we have to change Goa, we have to have a regional force. Having said that I came to Goa Vikas Party last time because I did not want to come to Congress. But our party members got stuck so I had to come out. We had two MLAs and they had promised us Minister ship but they gave us Goa Meat Complex and its Chairmanship to Lyndon Monteiro. I had warned them that many of our Christian voters are beef eaters and this will create problems for us but the party wouldn’t listen to me. Everyone started looking at us as an extension of BJP. Plus Ravi Cabral, who is an Executive Committee Member of GVP is Curchorem MLA and BJP’s Nilesh Cabral’s brother. Lyndon is Ravi Cabral’s brother in law. So, it was all a family and this too was hurting our prospects. Lyndon still remains a good friend but politically I was facing a lot of problems. I got a BJP tag only because of Goa Vikas Party so there was no reason to stay around there. The only reason we supported BJP in 2012 we were 2 members, they gave us no powers. Since GVP had relatives of BJP members but we were left high and dry our legs were slowly cut. Besides I was promised a Ministry if we supported Alina. They gave me only promises and promises. I told Lyndon they are going to put us into problems. 10 candidates were put up but not a single one got elected.
Then I joined Goa Su Raj Party but their mentality is different. They are like for our Catholic people Hindutva type. I have no problems with any party as am not power hungry. In fact, even as an opposition MLA, I have been able to get a lot more done than being a part of ruling dispensation. So I talked with Advocate and others and decided that let us rebuild the party to its old glory in these troubled times when Goa needs to go back to its roots and strengthen them.
I have supported this Govt for the past 10 years, but the GST was not done properly. Why should businessmen come to this country? Why is this country paying so much high taxes? This Govt is ripping off people.
Why did I come back to UGDP & People agree
MP: It is not going to affect my political prospects because UGDP has a say in Goa. It is a secular party which is crucial in current times. See my voters don’t get confused. They are intelligent and not illiterate people. They know why I went and why am I coming back because I have tested all the parties. National parties out of question have no interest in Goa. In fact, we shall be fielding Lok Sabha candidates both in North and South Goa. Only a Goan political party can have the voice of Goa heard in the Parliament. We have sent Churchill Alemao as UGDP MP from Goa. We just have to go from village to village and educate the people why we are going to Lok Sabha. We have to impress upon them that with BJP both at the Centre and in the State what benefit has the state got? We have had two Union Ministers from Goa and what benefit has Goa got? Nothing. With a local party at the Centre at least no one can shut his mouth when he says what Goa wants.
We are not answerable to Centre. We can start Mining, we can start Bull Fight. We can stop Coal in Vasco. We can stop Nationalisation of Rivers. We can stop CRZ. We
Why did I join now and what is the Plan?
MP: I had to leave GVP and join UGDP because we want it to play a significant role in Lok Sabha. I don’t want to lose time. We are not absolutely going into an alliance with BJP and or Congress. Even if the need arrives we shall stay in the Opposition. I shall resign from politics if my Party supports BJP.
We will be going into all the 40 constituencies, door to door, village to village. Not just for Lok Sabha but also for next Assembly Elections. I am focussing on regrouping UGDP to build a robust cadre and waddo level teams. In the next state elections, not only South but in the North especially constituencies like Calangute, Saligao, Siolim, Aldona, we shall be fielding strong candidates.
I have invited MLAs and leaders from BJP and Congress too to quit their parties and join us because UGDP is the roots, the soul of Goa and Goan people have after years of misrule by national parties realised that they can rely only on one of their own which is UGDP. Young Siddesh Bhagat, Sarpanch of Aquem-Baixo shall be joining us while an estimated 4000 more will be joining UGDP across different parts of the state. The resources for all forthcoming elections shall not be a constraint for UGDP anymore and we shall match any national party every footstep.
Where will I be contesting from?
MP: I shall stick to Nuvem which had elected me in 2012 though so many people from Benaulim have approached me. A worried Churchill even invited me too but I told him why don’t you join UGDP and contest as our candidate from Benaulim in the next election. Viola shall be contesting from Cortalim. She is from Cansaulim and the tremendous work that she did help Nellie close her gap as GVP candidate in last elections. As a child Viola grew up in Velsao and she is a grand-daughter of Cortalim. She has strong and formidable roots all over Cortalim except for Sancoale. Besides campaigning for Nellie in COrtalim she also campaigned for Caitu in Benaulim so she too would be a force to reckon with.
