PANJIM: Advocating the need of pre-poll alliance between the Opposition parties in the State, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State President Jose Philip D’Souza on Thursday said that leaders of these should sit across the table and decide on the issue of readmitting defectors.
Reacting to Congress warning that they will not even hold talks with the parties admitting defectors, D’Souza said that many sitting MLAs, who switched over to the BJP are in touch with them to join the party and that decision has to be taken regarding their entry.
“Many sitting MLAs and former Ministers are interested in joining NCP and we need to take a decision in the largest interest of the party and to save division of secular votes in the next Assembly elections,” he said.
However, he did not reveal the names of those interested MLAs and former Ministers saying that it would not be proper to disclose their names so early.
When asked whether he will give guarantee that the defectors will not again change sides if re-elected, D’Souza said that it is precisely this reason that he wanted all opposition parties leaders to sit and take a final decision on them since the need of pre-poll alliance of like-minded parties is inevitable.
“It pre-poll alliance happens, it will help all. It will prevent division of secular votes. We need to come together. Future will be bright if all the like-minded parties come together,” he said recalling 2017 Assembly when pre-poll alliance talks between Congress and NCP failed.
Reacting to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) promise to give free electricity to people consuming up to 300 units per month, D’Souza said the AAP is trying to fool the people if Goa by selling their stories.
D’Souza said that AAP has created mess in Delhi where people are facing water crisis and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is touring poll-bound States to fool the voters. He demanded that AAP should first come out clean on the alleged Rs 28,000 crore scam in the Delhi Jal Board.
NCP General Secretaries Avinash Bhosale and Sanjay Barde and NYC President Yashpal Raikar were also present for press briefing.
