PANAJI: The Minister for Civil Supplies, Mr Jose Philip D’souza was on Tuesday appointed as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party, Goa unit, by the party’s national president and Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar. Mr D’souza is currently in Pune on an official visit.

According to the NCP press statement, Mr Pawar took the decision after holding consultations with the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel who is in charge of Goa state affairs. The NCP statement also said that Mr D’souza has taken over the post of party president with immediate effect.

Speaking over the phone, Mr D’souza thanked Mr Pawar and Mr Patel for reposing faith in him and giving him a big responsibility to lead the party in the state. He said that his first priority as the president of the party will be to strengthen the party at all levels in the state. Mr D’souza further said that he will also make efforts to bring back old party members who have left the party, so as to strengthen the party.

Reacting to the appointment of Mr D’souza as the party state president, the former acting president, Dr Carmo Pegado said, "I am happy for Mr D’souza and in fact I had supported his candidature when it had come up. He was the vice-president of the core committee of the party and had worked together for the growth of the party in the state."

Dr Pegado said that this should have happened long back in the larger interest of the party and added that he is also relieved as he will be able to devote more time to his constituency. He said that now he will focus on working with the people of St Andre constituency and at the same time devote to his patients.