BJP to file disqualification petition against Babush
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JUNE 25
The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) will file a disqualification petition against Taleigao member of the legislative assembly (MLA) and Education Minister Babush Monserrate who rejoined the Congress party two days ago. Leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar at a press conference held at assembly complex on Friday evening , said the BJP’s legislative wing of the party in its meeting held today has taken the decision.
In 2007 assembly elections, Monserrate was declared Congress candidate to contest the Taleigao seat. However he dumped the Congress party at last minute when his wife Jennifer Monserrate was denied the Congress ticket to contest in St, Cruz constituency.
Interestingly, Monserrate filed nomination papers to contest Taleigao seat as a United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) candidate within a few hours after he resigned from the Congress party.
Two days ago, the BJP was reluctant about filing disqualification petition against Monserrate . Party spokesperson Rajendra Arlekar, on being grilled at a press conference on Wednesday here, had questioned the utility of filing disqualification petition against the Taleigao MLA and had said it will not make any difference.
However, Parrikar today said the party has taken the decision to go ahead with disqualification petition but it would be subject to receipt of relevant documents from UGDP. Monserrate was expelled from UGDP when he supported Congress-led government much against the wishes of the party.
Parrikar said he will write to the UGDP chief requesting for documents necessary to file the disqualification petition to make a case of defection against the Taleigao MLA.
No confidence motion: Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar has announced that BJP would move a no-confidence motion against Speaker Pratapsing Rane for his alleged “partisan behaviour.” Earlier a no confidence motion moved by the BJP was dismissed by the speaker on technical grounds.
Making allegations that the Speaker has been acting in “partisan manner “he said the BJP strongly denounced his “this attitude.”
He further said none of the disqualification petitions filed before the speaker has been decided even as they have been pending for over three years now.
Referring to the disqualification petition filed against transport minister and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) legislator from Madkai, Sudin Dhavalikar, he said stay on his voting right was lifted only after the Supreme Court order.
Currently, he said five disqualifications petitions are pending before the Speaker which he alleged have been left pending for the benefit of the Congress party.
