Team Herald

PANJIM: In what will make the anti-Luzinho Faleiro group of power hungry former Chief Ministers and some MLA’s, totally red faced, sacked and controversial former Congressman Babush Monserrate, has said that he “never had any problems with Faleiro”, and at no stage did he insist on his removal as a pre-condition for his return to the party and contest the by- elections in Panjim.

Monserrate is waiting for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to announce the Panjim by-election date, to join the Congress party, from which he was expelled for a period of six years in 2015 for anti-party activities. 

“There is this wrong or misinformation spread by some Congress leaders. They are using me for their internal fight. I never had any condition or reservations against Faleiro. I have no issue working under him once I join the party,” Monserrate told Herald. 

Soon after Panjim MLA Siddharath Kuncolienkar resigned in May paying way for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to contest by-elections, around 14 MLAs met Monserrate at his residence and urged him to return to the Congress and take on Parrikar in the capital.

After the meeting, few MLAs claimed that Monserrate has set pre-poll condition that Faleiro should step down as GPCC president and that post the by-election, he will ensure Congress forms the government toppling the incumbent BJP-led coalition government. 

But Monserrate has completely exposed this as totally devoid of facts. “There was no condition from me of any sort. How can I, currently a non-Congressman, demand for resignation or change of Congress leadership? I never had any issue with Faleiro,” Monserrate said adding ‘but yes, post winning by-election, I can make effort to bring Congress to power’. 

Monserrate lost the Panjim elections against BJP’s Kuncolienkar and remains without a constituency for the first time in his political career. He had won 2012 election on Congress ticket from St Cruz constituency,

 Responding to a question on his re-entry into the Congress party, former MLA said that he is waiting for the ECI to announce the Panjim by-poll dates. “Let there be buzz. Let ECI declare the dates. I have decided to contest against Parrikar on a  Congress ticket. I have taken the decision,” he said. 

The by-election for Panjim and Valpoi constituency are due in next three months.