Pacheco suggests GVP's merger with UGDP

Goa Vikas Party (GVS) supremo Fransisco Miccky Pacheco today suggested that the political entity be merged with United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP).
"GVP has a tag of being BJP friendly party because many of its office bearers are enjoying positions in the state government. There is no time to get rid of the tag. So it is advisable to merge the party with UGDP and face elections," GVP supremo and Nuvem legislator Pacheco told reporters here.
Pacheco's statement came as a surprise for his own party colleagues, who said there is no such proposal before them.
"If party office bearers agree with the proposal of merger then its well and good, but if they don't, then I will quit GVP and join UGDP to contest upcoming poll from Nuvem constituency," Pacheco, former minister in the Laxmikant Parsekar-led government, said.

He said UGDP already has listed 18 candidates in different constituencies, "who have the capability to win the polls".
However, GVP General secretary Lyndon Monteiro, refused that there is any such proposal before the party.

"What we hear (about merger with UGDP) is only from media. Pacheco has not submitted any formal proposal," he said.
"But since Pacheco is a party supremo his media statement has to be taken seriously and hence we have called for party's meeting this week which will discuss the proposal of merging GVP into UGDP," Monteiro said.
Monteiro is the chairman of state-run Goa Meat Complex Limited.

Asked about his personal opinion on the issue, he said, "If someone feels suffocated in the party, then they can take their own decision."
GVP has two MLAs in the current state Assembly.
The party had supported the BJP government when it was formed under the leadership of then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in 2012.