Team Herald

PANJIM: A day after the Lok Sabha and three Assembly by-polls, Congress and BJP went into election mode once again, this time for the by-poll in Panjim.

Congress has taken a lead in announcing the candidate, as All India Congress Committee on Wednesday approved the name of former minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate for the by-election. 

All India Congress Committee general secretary Mukul Wasnik on Wednesday announced that party president Rahul Gandhi had approved the candidature of Monserrate for the by-election. Monserrate, who was vice president of BJP ally Goa Forward Party, had resigned last week to join Congress. He also resigned as chairman of Greater Panjim Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA) to contest in Panjim.

Monserrate has been a minister in past governments of Parrikar, Digambar Kamat and Pratapsingh Rane.

On the other hand the BJP, which will be fighting to retain the constituency held by Parrikar, has begun the process to shortlist candidates.

BJP Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar said that a meeting of corporators affiliated to the party from the Corporation of City of Panaji  (CCP) was held to discuss the name of probables. The party’s Panjim unit also met and discussed probable candidates, he stated.

While Tendulkar refused to divulge the names discussed, party sources stated that Utpal Parrikar, son of Manohar Parrikar and former MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar, are in the race for the party ticket.