Babush's entry into Goa Forward will not affect party, says Lourenco
the goan I network
MARGAO
A little less than a month ago, Congress MLAs from Salcete had all pinned their hopes on Babush Monserrate after he promised to dislodge the Manohar Parrikar government if they all worked according to his plan. Delhi apprised of Babush episode, says Shantaram
Believing in Monserrate, a couple of Congress MLAs from the taluka had even switched their allegiances, hoping that their action would help dislodge the government and ensure the restoration of the people's mandate. They had even gone to Monserrate's residence, hoping that he may cobble up the magic figure to send the BJP packing home. Tuesday's development wherein Monserrate joined hands with the Goa Forward Party, indirectly strengthening the four-month old Manohar Parrikar-led government, however, has dashed all their hopes to the ground, though the Congress legislators say that all is not lost and the party can still be a force to reckon with in the state.
Three-time Curtorim MLA Alex Reginaldo Lourenco conceded that Babush Monserrate had offered hope to the party legislators that the Parrikar-led government can be dislodged on certain conditions. "The Congress MLAs believed in his plan. However, not all is lost if Babush has joined the Goa Forward. We will have to change our strategy and play a united role inside and outside the Legislative Assembly," Reginaldo said, adding that he do not consider the development as a setback to the Congress party.
Congress first-time MLAs, Clafacio Dias and Wilfred D'Sa, who were once close to outgoing GPCC Chief Luizinho Faleiro, but later worked as part of the group of party MLAs with the hope of dislodging the BJP government, said that the 16-member Congress group in the Legislative Assembly can still play a significant role by taking up the grievances of the people. The duo admitted that the Congress group of MLAs were given the hope that the Parrikar-led government can be dislodged if they had to go by the Monserrate plan, but in vain.
The first-time MLAs felt that the Congress can make a strong comeback if the party leaders heading the organization and the legislature worked unitedly and perform the role of the strong opposition.
Sources within the Congress Salcete circles informed that though Babush Monserrate has joined hands with the Goa Forward party, the ruling dispensation may benefit out of the development only in Panaji which goes to the bypoll shortly. "The development will in no way alter the situation in Salcete where the Congress had swept the election by winning six out of the eight seats at stake. Public resentment against the Parrikar-led dispensation is still high in the minority heartland," remarked a senior Congress leader from Salcete.
High Command apprised of Babush episode: Shantaram
MARGAO: The unfolding political developments with Congress prospective candidate for the Panaji seat Babush Monserrate embracing the Goa Forward Party echoed in Delhi, with Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Shantaram Naik conveying the latest development to Congress vice-President Rahul Gandhi, even as the GPCC President put on a brave face to assert that the Congress will field a formidable candidate who is capable of upsetting Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's applecart in the bye-poll.
"Yes, I have discussed the Babush Monserrate's episode with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. And, we have discussed the state's political developments during my meeting with the Gandhi," Shantaram told The Goan from the national capital, while declining to go into the details of his discussions with Gandhi.
He, however, said that that the Babush Monserrate episode will not affect the Congress in any manner, pointing out the Monserrate was not a member of the Congress party.
While admitting that the Congress party had requested Monserrate to contest the Panaji bypoll on the Congress banner, Naik, however, exuded confidence that the party would take the development in its stride and contest both the Panaji and Valpoi bypolls.
"We will contest the two seats and win the election. The party will go all out to win the byepoll," Naik said.
Asked to comment to reports in political circles that an independent candidate will be in a better position to take on the Chief Minister in the capital city, the GPCC president said that he has no idea whether any such proposal has been floated by anyone, but hastened to add that he is personally in favour of the Congress contesting the Panaji seat on the party symbol.
"Babush Monserrate may have joined the Goa Forward Party, but the Congress will not face any problem in shortlisting the party candidate to contest against the Chief Minister. I can say with confidence that the party will field a formidable candidate to take on Manohar Parrikar in the Panjim byepoll," the GPCC president said.
