D'Souza had resigned as state president along with a majority of the executive committee members who accused Sharad Pawar of being communal and anti-Catholic.

Kulkarni said the party was in the process of appointing a new president and beefing up the membership of the party, which presently has only 86 politicians.

'There were no attempts made to enroll members in the party. In the last few years, the party here was controlled by a coterie of individuals who did not go beyond Panaji and adjoining areas,' Kulkarni said, taking a swipe at D'Souza.

The NCP presently has three legislators in the Goa legislative assembly, two of whom are cabinet ministers.