‘GF is here to grow as a pan Goa party’

HERALD: What is the idea behind opening the Goa Forward office in Santa Cruz?

PRASHANT NAIK: Basically, it's not that we have opened a Goa Forward office in Santa Cruz. Earlier we have opened Goa Forward offices in Saligao, Siolim and also have Goa Forward office in Fatorda because Babush Monserrate has joined Goa Forward recently. He thought that he can serve better the people of the constituency of which he was an MLA earlier. Earlier he was affiliated to some other party but now since he has joined Goa Forward he has opened his office in Santa Cruz.

HERALD: Is there an office of Goa Forward in Taleigao too?

PN: We have not yet opened any Goa Forward office in Taleigao.

HERALD: There are speculations going around in political circles that Goa Forward is increasing their presence in the present Congress constituencies. Is this a pattern to spread tentacles into Congress ruled areas to increase Goa Forward presence?

PN: Everybody thought in a similar way in the last Goa elections. But I want to make it very clear that out of three of our sitting MLAs, two have directly defeated sitting ministers of BJP. The 3rd is elected as independent in a constituency which was represented by BJP MLA in the past for two terms. So it is clear that our presence right now is largely in the BJP constituencies. There is no restriction for Goa Forward whatsoever to enter in any area and entire Goa is open for us. We are going to enter in areas which we feel we are confident of working right from tomorrow. Every organisation has a plan of action and in the initial plan we may have certain areas; the next plan of action we will have newer areas of Goa.

HERALD: What are the works Goa Forward plans to take up in the areas where offices are being established?

PN: People have several works to be done in several government departments and the office becomes the central point to assist the voters in their works. Since we are looking after a particular constituency there are some infrastructure works that need to be taken up at the government level hence by virtue of opening an office in the particular area you may also suggest that these are the works to be taken up in a particular constituency and a particular area. We also help in membership drive for the people from those constituencies. It is only a facilitator for the people.

HERALD: What is going to be the role of Babush Monserrate in Goa Forward?

PN: He has been elected in two different constituencies on different parties and he has been representing the people of those areas for the last 4 terms. I feel that Monserrate in Goa Forward is an advantage for the party as he has presence in entire Tiswadi Taluka.

HERALD: Future plans of Goa Forward for Taleigao?

PN: As of now it is not specific for Taleigao but entire Goa is on the radar of Goa Forward. Goa Forward is here to grow as a pan Goa party. Last elections we came in very late and hence limited ourselves to 4 constituencies, the next election I'm telling you we will be in all 40 constituencies.