New prez says G-7 no more
PANJIM, JULY 2
The Nationalist Congress Party on Friday extended a warm welcome to all those who deserted the party in the past and promised to admit those who were expelled for some or the other reason.
Addressing his first press conference after being appointed as President of the State NCP, Jose Philip D’Souza extended a green leaf to party deserters and promised to take back those expelled in the presence of Ulhas Naik from Poinguinim who was expelled by one of the earlier presidents.
D’Souza mentioned one of his first decisions as president was to revoke the expulsion, even as he gave thrust on strengthening the party at all levels in his address to the media persons. I have decided to readmit Ulhas Naik into the party, he said.
“We have a membership of 25,000 till date and my endeavour will be to go to each and every constituency to enroll more members, he stated. On a question whether its past president Dr Wilfred de Souza was also welcome to join back, the new president laughed, indicating the veteran politician too could be back.
He said the party will soon have a full-fledged executive committee that will take up the task of strengthening the party.
D’Souza mentioned he was taking full responsibility as president and thanked NCP supremo Sharad Pawar for entrusting him this important position. I will work to strengthen the party and see that the NCP and Congress work without any conflict, he affirmed.
Over a question on whether G-7 still existed or the same had become G-5, the new president chose to laugh off the question but eventually said it didn’t exist anymore.
Answering a question on portfolios, D’Souza said he had written a letter to the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to give the deputy chairmanship of the Planning Board, which Dr Willy was holding even after his resignation from the NCP.
The former NCP Goa head was awarded the post when a coalition was struck between the Congress and the NCP. Willy resigned from NCP in June last year with many of his supporters who were today welcomed by the NCP.
To another question on whether the NCP will join the stir over price on July 5, D’Souza answered, “If the people are troubled over the price rise then the NCP will talk to its High Command.”
When asked to share his party’s vision keeping in mind the future Assembly elections, the NCP President didn’t have much to say and tossed questions pertaining to seat sharing and others to the party’s High Command.
Answering questions over its absconding MLA Mickky Pacheco who was denied anticipatory bail on three occasions, he said the law will take its on course. However, he mentioned the absconding MLA continued to be a NCP man.
