PANJIM: Further strengthening its base in Tiswadi Taluka which is home to crucial five Assembly seats, the Congress on Saturday inducted former Panjim Mayor Uday Madkaikar, who was closely associated with local MLA Atanasio Monserrate for almost two decades.
Madkaikar, along with his supporters including some former councillors Regina Almeida and Milind Shirodkar joined Congress, where he was associated since 1988, before he could switch is loyalty towards Monserrate.
On Friday, the Congress readmitted form Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Tony Rodrigues, former councillors Naguesh Kariashetty, his wife Resha Kariashetty, Leena Madkaikar and social worker Samil Volvoikar from Corlim.
Speaking on the occasion, Madkaikar called Monserrate a “habitual defector”, who is known for switching is political loyalty. “During the 2019 by-election held in Panjim, the Congress team and Monserrate supporters like me, worked day and night to make him victorious. But he betrayed everyone, including the voters,” Madkaikar said.
Madkaikar, a sitting councilor, said that Monserrate has been making rounds with his same old “election manifesto” for last 10-15 years, with zero fulfillments of promises.
“He fooled people of Taliegao and now Panjim,” he said.
The councillor said that his focus is not to get party ticket at this point, but to strengthen its base in Panjim and other constituencies of Tiswadi.
“Irrespective of who gets the party ticket, but we will work united to defeat Monserrate and the BJP,” he commented.
