TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Cracking the whip on intermittent dissidence, the Goa Pradesh Congress executive committee resolved to expel its St Cruz MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate for his anti-party activities during the recently concluded Panjim by-elections. Bolting the door on the MLA, the party executive also decided to debar Monserrate from re-entering the party under any circumstances.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) executive committee that met under the presidentship of President Luizinho Faleiro to discuss on the party’s debacle at the Panjim by-poll, discussed in detail Monserrate’s role against the party candidate Surendra Furtado and his open support of the BJP.
“It is hereby resolved that Atanasio Monserrate be expelled from the party forthwith and be debarred from re-entering the party under any circumstances,” the resolution reads. “The executive committee discussed in detail on the party dissidents in general. But the resolution was passed to expel Monserrate on an immediate note,” GPCC General Secretary Sunil Kawthankar told media persons adding that party will not take any action against Taleigao MLA and Monserrate’s wife Jennifer, as no complaints were received against her.
The resolution of the party is being forwarded to the party high command. “The executive committee meetings held to consider inter alia, serious disciplinary issues and anti-party activities arising from the conduct of the St Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate including his open, flagrant, derisive and contemptuous statements to the media and to the party functionaries and workers of the party against the party’s candidate in particular and the party and its leadership in general,” the resolution reads.
“And also having considered the report by the party candidate Furtado on February 16 (on the counting day), about the role played by Monserrate against his candidature and in support of the BJP, the resolution is passed,” the resolution notes.
Kawthankar assured that the order of expulsion would be issued shortly, considering that the party is not banking on one individual to run its organization. “This is a very bold step taken by the party and the party will stick to it,” he said. Asked why the party is silent on taking any action against MLA Mauvin Godinho, he said, “Anyone indulging in anti-party works would face severe action in future.”
GPCC has taken note of Monserrate’s statements right from November 7, when he had announced his decision to resign from the Congress and contest as an independent. Then on December 22, Monserrate had announced his support to the BJP. He had even informed AICC Secretary Dr A Chellakumar during his visit to Goa on January 22 about his opposition to the official candidate and that he would support the BJP.
