Jose Philip new NCP Legislature Party Leader in place of Micky

Panaji, June 7 (UNI) In a sudden development, the 3-member NCP legislature party in Goa has elected senior party leader and former minister Jose Philip D'Souza as its new leader in place of Francisco Xavier (Micky) Pacheco today.

The party, which met here in presence of its president Dr Wilfred D'Souza and central observor Gurunath Kulkarni, also unanimously elected Nilkanth Halarnkar as chief whip of the party in the Legislative Assembly.

Angered over this jolt that denies him of the opportunity of becoming Deputy Chief Minister in the new government, the quixotic and flamboyant Pacheco reportedly left the meeting in a huff after shouting at the leaders.

Mr Jose was elected from Vasco and Nilkanth from Tivim, wresting the seats from the BJP in the June 2 hustings.

The former had the credit of disqualifying BJP legislator and former president Rajendra Arlekar from membership of the house through an election petition on ground of occupying an office of profit at the time of filing nomination from Vasco in 2002 elections.

Mr Pacheco was re-elected from Benaulim in South Goa. He claimed to become deputy chief minister immediately after he was elected. He was agriculure minister in Rane government and tourism minister in BJP's Manohar Parrikar government.

UNI