Patel, Anwar to kickstart NCP's campaign on May 21

Panaji, May 19 (UNI) Senior NCP leaders Praful Patel and Tariq Anwar will kick off the election campaign for the party from Mapusa in Goa on May 21, according to the party's central observer Gurunath Kulkarni.

Interacting with mediapersons here today, Mr Kulkarni said Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred De Souza who is also the president of state NCP will address the campaign in favour of six NCP candidates, contesting the June 2 elections to the state Legislative Assembly.

Meanwhile, the NCP has drafted the services of six ministers from Maharashtra, asking them to campaign in each of the six constituencies.

Party supremo Sharad Pawar is likely to participate in the campaign before it concludes on May 31. The party manifesto may also be a joint effort with the theme of all-round development of Goa and strengthening of secular and democratic forces, he said.

In case both the parties win a majority of seats as expected, the Chief Minister's post will go to Congress, as it has fielded a majority of 32 candidates, leaving six to the NCP in the 40-member House.

UNI