PANJIM: Congress’ St Cruz legislator Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate on Tuesday said that Bharatiya Janata Party’s “peon” will win the Panjim by-election if he does not contest as an Independent candidate. Monserrate said he is confident he will win the by-poll as an Independent candidate.
“If I choose not to contest the by-poll and BJP nominates even its ‘chaprasi’ (peon) for Panjim seat, the party is sure to win the election. I am a strong candidate and I am confident that I will win against both the national parties (BJP and Congress),” he said in a brief conversation with Herald on Tuesday.
Goa Election Office has hinted that the by-poll will take place in February 2015 along with the Delhi Assembly elections.
Monserrate is adamant that he will contest as an Independent, and his statement is unlikely to go down well with the Congress. The MLA claims he will lose the seat if he contests on a Congress ticket. “I don’t want to be a party man, but a public figure who genuinely represents people. I know the pulse of the people and Panjim constituency is not new to me. The locals know me very well as I campaigned for candidates during the previous municipal elections,” he said positioning himself second after Union Defence Minister and former Panjim MLA Manohar Parrikar.
“Parrikar is the topmost in the hierarchy. No one can fit his shoes. I come after him,” he commented.
Monserrate revealed he will resign from the Congress to file his nomination papers as an Independent candidate. He, however, said his rapport with the party will continue to remain cordial. “There is no bitterness with the party. All are my friends and I am always in touch with them,” he said responding to a question about his relations with the Congress over his decision to contest the by-poll.
While he is set to contest the election, he claimed his wife will remain loyal to the Congress. “She will be with the Congress,” he said.
On the St Cruz seat falling vacant after his resignation, Monserrate has hinted that he would field ‘his person’ in the constituency. “I have a few close people in mind from whom I will choose. But there is still time, because the St Cruz by-poll will happen only after Panjim by-poll,” he said.
He, however, denied that any family member would file nomination
from St Cruz.
