Team Herald
PANJIM: With the date for Panjim by-elections being announced, the Goa Forward Party leader Atanasio Monserrate on Tuesday reiterated his decision to contest as an Independent candidate from the constituency.
The Panjim seat has fallen vacant after demise of then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who passed away on March 17. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the election schedule for the constituency, as per which, polling will take place on May 19 and counting on May 23.
“I will be contesting as an Independent for Panjim by-election. I will not be contesting on Goa Forward Party ticket, as I don’t want the party to face same fate as that of MGP. We all know what has happened to MGP despite being in alliance and GFP is also coalition partners,” Monserrate told media persons on Tuesday.
BJP led government dropped MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar from the cabinet after his party decided to contest the upcoming Shiroda by-election scheduled on April 23. GFP, too has three Ministers in the government including a Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai.
Former MLA said that he is waiting for the ECI to announce the poll date for Panjim by-election, to officially announce his candidature.
When asked whether he would seek support of Congress in Panjim by-election, Monserrate said “I look forward for the support of everyone. The main intention is to defeat the political opponents and whoever wants to defeat the opponent can support me,” he said.
Panjim constituency is a bastion of BJP, which was held by Parrikar for almost two and half decades.
After Parrikar, BJP is busy wooing his elder son Utpal to contest on party ticket from the constituency. Utpal, who has always distanced himself from the politics, has recently said that he will take the decision at the right time.
