PANJIM: Congress rebel and ‘unattached’ St Cruz MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate has extended ‘unconditional’ support to the BJP-led coalition to elect its chairperson to the North Goa zilla panchayat. He however, denied that this was a step closer to getting into the BJP, saying he has always been a good friend of the party.
The BJP-MGP-GVP alliance has a wafer thin majority in South to elect its chairperson.
Two Monserrate supported candidates Savanna Araujo (St Cruz) and Sydney Barreto (Taleigao) who emerged winners will support a BJP nominee for the North Goa ZP chairperson’s post.
In North Goa, the BJP-led alliance, which includes MGP, wrested 12 out of 25 seats it contested, leaving them with the option to take support of an independent candidate to cough up a majority. BJP won 11 out of 23 seats, while MGP won one out of two. The alliance needs one more seat to get its chairperson elected.
When contacted, Monserrate said that he has informed the BJP about his support to the government to elect the ZP chairperson in North Goa. “I had got a call from the BJP and I have extended my unconditional support to them,” he said, adding “the decision was taken keeping in mind the development of the two ZP constituencies.”
“I have to first look at development of these constituencies and hence I have to be on the right side. I cannot be on the wrong (Opposition) side,” the MLA added.
Monserrate, however, rubbished the view that he is a step closer to joining the BJP. “There is nothing like that. I have always been a good friend of BJP,” he clarified.
The MLA was recently expelled from the Congress party for six years for his anti-party activities during the Panjim by-polls.
In the South, the BJP-MGP-Goa Vikas Party alliance has a slim majority as it won 13 out of 25 seats. BJP won seven seats, while MGP managed to get four and GVP won two seats.
