Team Herald
PANJIM: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Goa, which has been weakened following its loss in the 2012 Assembly elections, is set to be strengthened with the entry of St Cruz MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.
His joining the party has been almost finalised, but the formal entry will happen only after the Assembly elections are declared.
“Babush’s soul, heart and everything is in NCP but at present officially he cannot join the party as he is an unattached legislator,” NCP Goa Unit President Jose Philip D’Souza told Herald on Tuesday. He said they will be meeting the party High Command shortly with Monserrate and everything will be finalised then.
Monserrate, speaking to Herald also indirectly hinted at joining NCP once the elections are declared.
“At present we can only plan as I am an unattached member. I can only support and work for development,” Monserrate said when asked about his entry into NCP.
He confirmed that he had met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and also held a couple of meetings with D’Souza and that talks are in progress with party leaders.
“The decision officially can be revealed only after the Assembly elections are announced, till then I am an unattached member,” Monserrate said.
Speaking further he indirectly warned Congress claiming they cannot challenge him in his constituency.
He was reacting to statements made by GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro claiming that Congress has its own base in Taleigao and St Cruz.
Monserrate was expelled from the Congress in February this year for supporting the BJP candidate in the Panjim by-poll.
He had initially announced he would contest the by-election against the Congress candidate after resigning from the Congress but later changed his plan and supported the BJP candidate.
No NCP candidate had won in the March 2012 assembly polls leaving the party with no representation in Assembly. Monserrate’s entry into the NCP could not only damage Congress but will also be a setback to the BJP.
