Expelled Monserrate set to field ‘family raj’ candidates in St Cruz and Taleigao. Wants to contest Panjim himself. Looking to poach Francis Silveira for St Andre
PANJIM: Did someone ever say Babush Monserrate is a political pariah after his expulsion from the Congress and the recent criminal case against him which hasn’t made much head way? Perish the thought. He is no pariah. He is the prince of many Congressmen who are toasting his presence and wouldn’t mind “arrangements” with the hope of a post-poll understanding and a shot at governance.
After the Panjim bypolls in 2015, the Congress had sacked Babush for working against the party candidate Surendra Furtado. However, his wife Jennifer Monserrate continues to be part of Congress.
Time and again the party officials have announced that the party will not have any tie-up with the MLA in future, including AICC General secretary Digvijay Singh and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro.
However the AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh last week said there was no chance for former
PWD Minister Churchill Alemao in the party, his answer on Babush was very vague.
“Churchill has been chargesheeted and hence the party will have no ties with him,” Digvijay said. When asked about Babush, who too has been allegedly accused of rape, he said, “He hasn’t been chargesheeted yet and that is the difference in that.”
As always, the St Cruz MLA again this time has set his sight on more than one seat, to be specific four this time - St Cruz, Taleigao, Panjim and St Andre.
Besides his wife and himself, the former Congress, BJP, UGDP minister plans to field former MLA Francis Silveira in St Andre and another candidate in St Cruz, who is yet to be finalised, and may well be another member of the family. Babush himself is planning to contest from Panjim.
But that hasn’t stopped Congress MLAs and others hobnobbing with him. He was recently seen at a five-star hotel coffee shop with his rival in the CCP elections and Conngress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar and PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar. This wasn’t just another chat over coffee.
Meanwhile, Monserrate shares a very special relationship with former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and his recent visit to the former CM’s home in Malbhat, Margao during Janmashtami, further enhanced those ties. It is absolutely impossible to believe that these ties will not spill over into the political space.
It’s a quid pro quo. Monserrate needs the Congress as much as the Congress needs him. Saraswat-dominated Panjim is unlikely to vote against Parrikar’s candidate, which would again be Siddharth Kuncoliencar.
Also, the chances of Jennifer Monserrate getting elected is Taleigo are not so bright considering the narrow loss of Dattaprasad Naik in last Assembly elections. Dattaprasad meanwhile has gained ground with the BJP in power.
In these circumstances, the Congress by doing backdoor deals with Babush, is sending an Olive branch to the unattached MLA.
These reports come close on heels of Babush announcing openly he would float his own party and field candidates against Congress.
Herald Goa News
PANJIM: Did someone ever say Babush Monserrate is a political pariah after his expulsion from the Congress and the recent criminal case against him which hasn’t made much head way? Perish the thought. He is no pariah. He is the prince of many Congressmen who are toasting his presence and wouldn’t mind “arrangements” with the hope of a post-poll understanding and a shot at governance.
After the Panjim bypolls in 2015, the Congress had sacked Babush for working against the party candidate Surendra Furtado. However, his wife Jennifer Monserrate continues to be part of Congress.
Time and again the party officials have announced that the party will not have any tie-up with the MLA in future, including AICC General secretary Digvijay Singh and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro.
However the AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh last week said there was no chance for former
PWD Minister Churchill Alemao in the party, his answer on Babush was very vague.
“Churchill has been chargesheeted and hence the party will have no ties with him,” Digvijay said. When asked about Babush, who too has been allegedly accused of rape, he said, “He hasn’t been chargesheeted yet and that is the difference in that.”
As always, the St Cruz MLA again this time has set his sight on more than one seat, to be specific four this time - St Cruz, Taleigao, Panjim and St Andre.
Besides his wife and himself, the former Congress, BJP, UGDP minister plans to field former MLA Francis Silveira in St Andre and another candidate in St Cruz, who is yet to be finalised, and may well be another member of the family. Babush himself is planning to contest from Panjim.
But that hasn’t stopped Congress MLAs and others hobnobbing with him. He was recently seen at a five-star hotel coffee shop with his rival in the CCP elections and Conngress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar and PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar. This wasn’t just another chat over coffee.
Meanwhile, Monserrate shares a very special relationship with former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and his recent visit to the former CM’s home in Malbhat, Margao during Janmashtami, further enhanced those ties. It is absolutely impossible to believe that these ties will not spill over into the political space.
It’s a quid pro quo. Monserrate needs the Congress as much as the Congress needs him. Saraswat-dominated Panjim is unlikely to vote against Parrikar’s candidate, which would again be Siddharth Kuncoliencar.
Also, the chances of Jennifer Monserrate getting elected is Taleigo are not so bright considering the narrow loss of Dattaprasad Naik in last Assembly elections. Dattaprasad meanwhile has gained ground with the BJP in power.
In these circumstances, the Congress by doing backdoor deals with Babush, is sending an Olive branch to the unattached MLA.
These reports come close on heels of Babush announcing openly he would float his own party and field candidates against Congress.
Herald Goa News
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