HERALD: Recently your MLA from St Cruz Tony Fernandes addressed Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate as ‘boss’ and said that he is willing to resign if Babush wants. How do you react?
CHANDRAKANT KAVALEKAR: First of all, even if has called Babush boss, it could be just out of respect. Recently, Tony addressing the Executive Committee meeting clarified that he is neither thinking of, nor will he, leave the party and join someone else. Regarding his statement, Tony said it out of respect to Babush Monserrate. We acknowledge Babush’s contribution to the party. His wife is a Congress legislator and if he had won the elections it would be an additional seat for the Congress despite being in a different party.
HERALD: So Babush is no threat?
CK: Not at all. If the Panjim seat is vacated, then in all probability Babush could be our candidate for the by-election.
HERALD: How do you respond to the speculation of Pratapsingh Rane being wooed to join the ruling dispensation?
CK: He has maintained that there is no question of him leaving the party. He has also mentioned it to the media that his remaining life he will stay with the Congress. He is like the Bishmpitama of the Goa Congress. I don’t think he has any more desires left in his political career. He has spent 45 years in public as MLA, as chief minister and all other major positions of public life. I don’t think there can be anymore desires at this point of time in life.
HERALD: Why has the party delayed in filing the disqualification petition against Vishwajit Rane?
CK: There were a lot of opinions on the disqualification of Vishwajit Rane. After taking all the views into consideration, we have concluded that yes we will go ahead with the disqualification petition. As far as the claims that the whip was not registered, there is no compulsion on the party to register its whip with the Legislature. It was a whip of the CLP and it is okay even if you don’t inform the Legislature Secretary.
HERALD: But the Chief Minister is on record that there could be more who could follow Vishwajit Rane and join the BJP. How do you react?
CK: These are just rumours being spread by the BJP as they are worried that their own MLAs who are upset and are feeling suffocated want to break away from the current dispensation. It is very evident that someone who was a minister has been re-elected and yet doesn’t get to become a minister (would be upset). Take the example of Francis D’Souza, he is a representative of the minority community. He was number two in the previous government but now he has been made number four. So there is obvious resentment within the BJP and these are just rumours.
