BABUSH MONSERRATE PVT LTD

You can love him or hate him, but you cannot ignore him.  His current status is “Unattached”. In politics of course and not on his Face book page. But Babush Monseratte, always unattached in  spirit to any party or ideology, is never detached. He is a professional political animal, who has uncluttered view of politics as simply a road tom power.  And after his CCP election win, no party, formation or situation is alien to him. Politics is not about parties, but simply mastering the art of winning. By hook, and clearly by crook.

In the 2017 elections, he had no party, just his wife as an ally while he was being closely watched by all the major players, especially after the Panjim Corporation elections. He is the loose cannon which explodes and when he does, all hope that he is on side and not opposite them. So how is he different? A young politician from the Congress  tried a guess “ He does politics so professionally. Like a corporate”. He could be true. Because a corporate is about balancing the books, making profits, ensuring ease of business and keeping employees happy. Babush Monserrate Pvt Ltd does just that.

 The company is now preparing for his next and very valuable acquisition. The Panjim assembly seat.  “It depends, if I win the CCP I might contest from Panjim constituency. It has always been a dream of mine to contest from Panjim. I think I am the one who can give tough competition to Parrikar,” Babush told Herald a couple of days before the CCP polls.

Considering the MLA’s past political shifts for power, his dream of contesting from Panjim constituency can give BJP leaders sleepless nights as they find themselves missing their beloved ‘bhai’ Manohar Parrikar as sitting MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar has not been able to replace the stalwart leader. 

Monserrate’s coziness with Parrikar and Parikar’s protégé Kuncolienkar’s dream to overpower Parrikar, will play a part in the move of Babush Monseratte Pvt Ltd to get Panjim. He had openly extended his support to the BJP in the 2014 Parliamentary election, a move which forced Congress to show him the door. 

The political career of this controversial politician stems from a challenge thrown to his former mentor and then Taleigao MLA, Somnath Zuwarkar. Single handedly, Monserrate wiped Zuwarkar from Taleigo in 2002, establishing himself as the uncrowned king of the area. He defeated him again in 2007. 

But his past could not leave him alone. People close to him reveal how this village boy earned his fortune from land sale to Goa University and then his business of lending money to the real estate lobby.

Babush had a trail of cases of extortion against him. But many could not stand in court leading to his acquittal.

So what’s next for the CEO from Taleigao? Babush has earned unprecedented support from his workers in Taleigao constituency.

“Monserrate stands the best chance of winning the Panjim seat from BJP. His vote share in the just concluded CCP polls was more than the BJP. For Babush to have a real good shot at Panjim, all the regional parties should put behind their differences and back him so as to facilitate a one-to-one fight,” former deputy Mayor and close aid of Monserrate, Kabir Makhija said.  

Let’s now look at all the roads ahead of Monserrate and the chances of he taking them

United Goa

Democratic Party (UGDP)

UGDP, the party that opened up political prospects for Monserrate in 2002, is once again likely to lay out a red carpet for the stalwart who intends to refurbish the regional party whose name is listed in the ‘forgotten’ political outfits. The party is currently lacking two ‘F’s – face and funding. Monserrate can provide both for this South Goa based party which is on the verge of turning into a fossil party if it can’t make a mark in the 2017 polls.

But not to forget, it was the same UGDP that expelled Monserrate in August 2007, after the leader backstabbed them by joining hands with the then Digambar Kamat led Congress government. Also, he is the same politician, who on getting elected in the 2002 Assembly election ditched the UGDP and joined BJP for a ministerial berth. 

Planning to have a fresh start to the political career, the former Education Minister has hinted at his plans to join UGDP and contest the 2017 polls.  And UDGP is willing to leave the past aside for one more adventure

Speaking to Herald, UGDP vice president Radharao Gracias said that Monserrate is “welcome home”. “Monserrate is in talks with us and he has expressed his view to join the party as he wants to set up a strong regional outfit. We are not averse to him joining,” he said. 

At the same time, Gracias expressed displeasure that in the past, leaders like Monserrate and the late Mathany Saldanha have used UGDP for their political growth and after establishing themselves have left the party. “As far the political scenario is concerned, it is not unusual that political leaders shift their loyalty from one party to another. There is no 100 percent guarantee that the leader will remain intact to one party,” he explained.   

The UDGP has it base in South Goa. The Election Commission (EC) derecognized the party in January 2008 and in 2009, the EC withdrew the UGDP’s two leaves symbol in view of the party’s failure to comply with certain provisions of the EC rules.

Monserrate’s Plan to Unite All 

Regional Force-

UGDP, MGP and Goa Forward

The MLA has already hinted that we would like to work together with leaders like Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and the MGP during the 2017 polls. And this was proved during the CCP election, when Sardesai rubbed shoulders with Monserrate. 

 Sardesai too is in favour of having a grand alliance in the 2017 elections. This grand alliance may open up a platform for Monserrate to contest from Panjim.  “I very well welcome this move of Monserrate, and feel that all the anti-BJP forces need to unite. Eventually, we should not divide ourselves,” Sardesai reacted. 

The St Cruz MLA was recently quoted talking to media and saying that Sardesai’s party (Goa Forward), MGP and UGDP can come together and can have a strong regional force in place for 2017 election.

Is BJP willing to take chance with 

Monserrate?

The answer to this question seems to be difficult at least at this stage. There is speculation of Monserrate being in Parrikar’s “good books”. The Union Minister is not very happy with his successor Kuncolienkar, who is currently ‘portraying’ himself as the new ‘bhai’ for Panjimites. And this is not going down well with Parrikar and some senior close loyalists of BJP. 

In such a situation, will Monserrate aim to contest Panjim hoping that Parrikar will back him? The answer to this will be known only as the election draws near. But for now, the door seems to be open for the leader. 

This legislator has carved an image of ‘Robin Hood’ for himself as he is known to help the people in need. The Taleigao family has always stood behind him though few politicians like BJP’s Dattaprasad Naik have managed to create a dent in his vote bank. But the dent is not big enough to damage Babush. BJP claims that CCP polls have revealed that Babush is losing hold over his constituency as the party won in two wards of Taleigao – Ward Nos 4 and 5 (retained). That is how BJP analyses it. 

However, the long queues in front of Monserrate’s mansion in Taleigao and celebration parties hosted after the CCP polls in this constituency tells another tale.

Sources stated that Babush might not try his luck in Panjim constituency but will stick to Taleigao while letting his son contest from St Cruz. “The increasing urbanization and newer settlements in Taleigao are not working in favour of Babush as his vote bank might get diluted posing a threat to him. The right move at this time would be for him to settle in Taleigao rather than experimenting with new constituencies,” sources said.

Other politicians have a long road ahead. Babush Monseratte always has many short roads ahead, referring to be a lone journey man, talking his company along signing Rabindranath Tagore immortal song “Ekala cholo re”. For even in temporary company Babush Monseratte is alone, as the head of his private limited 

company.