Goa: While Praful Patel nudges Cong for alliance, lone NCP MLA Alemao continues to support BJP

MARGAO: While the NCP high command including Praful Patel is ‘nudging’ the Congress to decide about an alliance with the NCP for the forthcoming Goa Assembly polls, the lone NCP MLA in Goa Churchill Alemao continues to support the BJP government.

Alemao was recently quoted singing the praises of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and said that that BJP government in Goa is working hard for the people.

“On not even a single instance, did Churchill Alemao criticize the policies of the BJP government in the last 3 years. There have been several instances when the government failed the people, particularly during the second Covid wave. People were dying due to lack of oxygen and there were no beds available at the government-run hospitals, yet Alemao kept his mouth shut. And now the NCP is talking about an alliance with the Congress. They should instead form an alliance with the BJP,” a senior Congress leader from South Goa retorted in anger.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Union minister Praful Patel on Thursday nudged the Congress party to quickly decide if it wants like to align with his party so that the candidates from the two parties get sufficient time to prepare ahead of the polls.

When asked if the party was willing go separate ways despite being in an alliance in neighbouring Maharasthra, Patel said his party was already talking to other regional parties including parties like the Goa Forward Party (GFP).

“Nobody is helpless. I have met leaders of other parties also… There are a good number of people who are willing to explore other options if there is no decision (from the Congress). You clap with two hands, not with one hand,” Patel was quoted by HT.