PANJIM, JUNE 27
The new State president of the Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) will be named within two days, a senior party official said here today.
NCP Secretary in charge of Goa desk Prakash Bhinsale speaking to Herald, after the NCP core committee meeting said the meeting was to discuss on various issues concerning the party, including appointing new president and the reconstitution of Goa Unit.
“We had a core committee meeting to discuss issues on how to strengthen the party in the State,” Bhinsale said.
On the appointment of the new State president, he said, “I am holding one to one meetings with various key members of the party and a decision in this regard would be reached very soon.”
According to sources in the party, the secretary had individual meetings with acting president Dr Carmo Pegado, Surendra Sirsat, Dr Prafful Hede, Rajendra Ghate, Avinash Bhosle, Ulhas Naik, Suresh Parulekar and Pandurang Raut.
Although Bhinsale refused to divulge any details, sources said Revenue Minister Jose Philipe D’Souza is tipped to be named the next president.
“Jose Philipe is the consensus candidate for now,” sources told Herald.
Apart from Jose Philipe, who has expressed reservations taking over the post, names of Ulhas Naik and Suresh Parulekar are also being discussed, sources said.
Sources continued that the reconstitution of the Goa unit of the party and especially the appointment of a full-fledged president is pending with the high command for nearly eight months now.
