PANAJI: The Nationalist Congress Party observer for Goa, Mr Prakash Binsale on Sunday said that NCP will try and keep the secular forces in Goa united.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Binsale, who is in the state on an official visit, said the name of the party’s state unit president will be announced in a couple of days. He further said that he is in Goa to hold consultations with party leaders and that the main objective of his visit is to strengthen the party in the state.

With regard to the Valpoi by-poll following the resignation of Mr Viswajeet Rane and his rejoining the Congress, Mr Binsale said that all options are open for his party. He said that the alliance partners have not discussed the issue with his party. He also said that the NCP is keeping all options open for the next assembly elections.

Virtually ruling the acting president, Dr Carmo Pegado out of the race, he said that senior leaders like Dr Pegado and other senior leaders have held many important posts in their lifetime, and they are with the party to guide and help it.

Mr Binsale said that the NCP has a prime objective of good governance, upliftment of the poor and serving the people. He said when the Digambar Kamat government was in crisis, it was the NCP that ensured that the government overcame the difficult situation.

Replying to a question on the fate of NCP MLA and former tourism minister, Mr Francisco Pacheco, he said that the controversy surrounding Mr Pacheco will not affect the party in the state. He said that Mr Pacheco has set precedence by resigning as minister on moral grounds as his name was implicated in the Nadia death case. Mr Binsale said Mr Pacheco continues to be a part of NCP and will continue to do so until he is proved guilty. He said that the NCP respects the judiciary system and that the law will take its own course.