Goa: Praful Patel

The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel seen with Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D'Souza, Tourism Minister, Mr Francisco Pacheco, Thivim MLA, Mr Nilkant Halarnkar, acting NCP president, Dr Carmo Pegado and other office bearers of NCP at Dabolim airport on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, Mr Patel said that the announcement of the new president of Goa NCP unit would be made in the forthcoming convention, organised by Tourism Minister, Mr Pacheco on January 30. When asked whether there are any differences between the ruling Congress and NCP legislators in the state, the Union Civil Aviation Minister disclosed that the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat and other senior party leaders including some ministers do no take NCP legislators into confidence. He informed that they have discussed the issue pertaining to the Congress leaders not taking them into confidence with the NCP national, president, Mr Sharad Pawar. "Since, NCP is a secular party. We have supported the Congress and made the government more stronger in the state", said Mr Patel and further added that "the Chief Minister, Mr Kamat should take our legislators and ministers into confidence before taking any decision in the Cabinet."

Meanwhile, at a meeting of Mr Patel, and the NCP general secretary, Mr D P Tripathi with the local party leaders on Saturday, it was decided to press for more meetings of the co-ordination committee of the three alliance parties constituting the present state government, namely Congress, NCP and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, besides an independent and an unattached MLA. The senior NCP leaders felt that there has been only one meeting of the co-ordination committee since its constitution, and that it should meet more often. Mr Patel and Mr Tripathi also discussed local party matters during the meeting.