PANJIM, NOV 19
Seven of the victorious councillors of the Mormugao Municipal Council owing allegiance to Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza have demanded action against Mickky Pacheco who they accused of threatening them and their supporters if they supported candidates fielded by the Nationalist Congress Party during the recently held council election.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, ex-chairperson of MMC Kritesh Gaonkar, along with the seven of eight councillors said they wanted some kind of action against Pacheco for his unwanted meddling in Vasco during the election campaign.
Fiola Rego, Neny D’Souza, Smita Landez, Lavina D’Souza, Pascoal D’Souza, Premanand Nanoskar and Jerry Fernandes were the seven councillors present at the briefing.
When questioned what action they were demanding against Pacheco, the councillors were not specific, but maintained the NCP high command, which had been apprised of the matter, should act in some manner.
The councillors maintained that Mickky, along with some Congress leaders had joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders to defeat the NCP candidates, but failed miserably. The matter was reported to the NCP high command, but no action seems to have been taken, it asserted.
Gaonkar said their supporters were threatened by Pacheco, who had used money as well as muscle power during the election campaign. Jerry Fernandes too joined Goankar in condemning Pacheco’s actions.
Answering questions posed by the media on the leadership issue of the council, Jose Philip’s wife Neny D’Souza clarified she was never interested in the top post of chairperson, but was ready to serve under able leaders for Vasco’s development.
To another question, Neny said her husband wanted to handover the post of NCP president to Pacheco for the growth of the party because the Benaulim MLA had shown promise of getting elected more MLAs for the party.
