Mickky plans to float new party

MARGAO: Former Nuvem legislator Francisco Xavier Pacheco alias ‘Mickky’ on Sunday announced his plan to float a new regional party if talks with the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) do not materialise by month-end.

He also announced that his party will contest the assembly bypolls and the Lok Sabha election. He said that his party will contest all the 40 seats during the next state assembly election.

Speaking to media persons in Margao, Pacheco said he would tour the state, meet people and understand their problems. “The Lok Sabha election is round the corner and people will be back to bribe voters but will isolate them once they come to power. Parties like Congress have already begun gearing up for the Lok Sabha election and voters in the state should think wisely and throw out national parties that are slaves of their leadership in Delhi. It is time to support regional parties that are based in Goa and think of local interests. I would like to tour Goa and meet people to know about their aspirations,” he said.

Mickky said that he is currently in talks with the UGDP but added that if nothing emerges from the talks by month-end, he would form a new regional party that will look into addressing the local issues.

“For me, Goa is about the people living in the state and also those who had to leave the state in search of employment due to our wrong policies. I would like to give Goa back to Goans,” said Pacheco.

Pointing to the Congress party’s promise of waiving farmers’ loans after winning three states in the recent state assembly elections, Pacheco alleged that the BJP and Congress have received Rs 12 billion and Rs 7 billion in party fund and that they should use the fund to waive the loans instead of using people’s hard-earned money for the same.