The Nationalist Congress Party state unit chief Jose Philip D’Souza feels that the move of some senior party leaders of joining the Congress would not impact the party functioning. D’Souza said that he would strengthen the party base by infusing young blood. In an interview with Sudesh Bhosle, the NCP state unit chief discloses his plans for strengthening the party in the state
Q: Do you feel Nilkanth Halarnkar’s move of joining the Congress would create any impact on the party?
A: Absolutely not. Halarnkar was not in touch with the party leaders for the last about one and half years after he was asked to step down as the NCP president.
Q: What do you have to say about Trajano D’Mello?
A: D’Mello was a good spokesperson for the party and always raised voice against injustice. I feel that he has joined the Congress for his future endeavours. I don’t want to comment more on D’Mello as he has always worked hard in order to get justice to the people.
Q: Do you mean to say that there is a bright future for Congress rather than the NCP in the state?
A: I have never said that there is a bright future for Congress. Everybody has a right to join or leave a party. And, whoever may have joined or left the party is on his own and it is his democratic right.
Q: Do you think the NCP is at great disadvantage with nine executive members leaving the party?
A: I would say that the party is supreme. I have always believed in working hard. I feel that the vacuum created in the party will be filled with youngsters, who will take the NCP to a greater height in the state.
Q: Will the nine executive members’ switch to Congress have impact on the forthcoming election outcome?
A: I don’t say that there will be any problem for NCP in the state in the forthcoming election.
I believe that NCP and Congress are secular and would fight to win the election together against the communal Bharatiya Janata Party. I would advice and appeal to the other secular parties and forces to support the NCP and Congress to defeat BJP in the forthcoming assembly election.
Q: Do you think that there will be alliance between NCP and Congress in the state for the forthcoming assembly election?
A: It is the need of the hour to have an alliance amongst secular parties to defeat communal BJP in the forthcoming assembly election. The decision on alliance will be announced by the party bigwigs and the announcement will be made only ahead of the assembly polls.
Q: What is the future of NCP in the state?
A: There is a bright future for the NCP in Goa. I will take the party ahead with the support of youngsters and the women force in all the 40 constituencies. Our party observer is arriving in the state on May 15 and he would decide on the future plans.
Q: How many seats will be claimed by the NCP?
A: We will discuss the seat sharing with Congress only after the election date is announced. We might demand more seats than we did in 2007 and 2012.