Monserrate backs out of contest for Panaji seat TNN | Jul 31, 2011, 12.58AM IST
PANAJI: Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar can breathe easy now when he contests for the record fifth term from Panaji in the next assembly elections.
Education minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate will not cross swords with him in the next assembly election.
Eight months ago, Monserrate's announcement that he would take on Parrikar and leave Taleigao segment to his wife and village panchayat sarpanch, Jennifer Monserate had triggered tremors in the BJP camp.
But now, he has decided to look for greener pastures for a spot to return to the Goa assembly.
Confirming this, Monserrate told TOI "Yes, I have decided to move out of Panaji constituency".
Monserrate said the main reason for him to change his mind was that he was unable to bring "development" in the capital city. It was "development" that he had promised to Panjimites after his panel won the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) polls.
"I had asked (the Congress party) for urban development portfolio so that I could do something for Panaji", he disclosed adding that "with education (portfolio) I can't do much in the constituency".
Monserrate, who represents Taleigao in the assembly, said that if he had to have the urban development portfolio instead of education, he would have initiated several projects and got his proposals implemented "for the betterment of the capital city, its residents and its visitors".
He said he had many plans for the capital city but nothing could materialize.
Monserrate is now eyeing Santa Cruz where he had fielded his wife in the 2007 election. "Let me see, I haven't decided yet", was what Monserrate said to a question on his plans for the next assembly elections, though he indicated that Taleigao might not necessarily be his preference.
After Monserrate's 'capital' announcement, the CCP election had turned out to be a mega battle between the two politicians. In a close encounter, Monserrate who had declared the election as a semi-final, pulled a victory for his panel - though by a small margin, four months ago.
For Monserrate it was a big victory as his opposition was not restricted to Parrikar and his supporters. There were many others who wanted to see Monserrate's panel defeated including professionals, builders and some Congress leaders too.
He said he was confident that if he had to get urban development portfolio, he would have surely defeated Parrikar. Parrikar is representing Panaji since 1994.
"I had got a very good feedback during CCP elections and despite heavy odds against me, my panel had won with people's support. The writing on the wall was clear," Monserrate said, adding that he would have defeated Parrikar based on the development plank. "But I could do nothing much without the urban development ministry", he added.
Parrikar said it would make no difference to him whether Monserrate contests or doesn't contest in Panaji in the next assembly elections. "I want to reiterate that as I had said earlier, I will contest. It's final. There is no change from my side and it doesn't matter much to me who will contest against me," he said.
Speaking to STOI, Parrikar further said "I want to make it very clear that I am not linked to Monserrate not contesting. Frankly speaking, I have not spoken to Monserrate, neither in person nor telephonically, for more than seven months now, except during the last assembly session."
He also stated that he takes all elections very seriously and added that "no one can take the electorate for granted and I've never done it".
Sources, however, said that there may have been some other factors for Monserrate changing his mind to give up the Panaji challenge. For some time now, a strong lobby had been working behind the scene to convince Monserrate to pull out from Panaji.
Denials notwithstanding, the fear was that if Monserrate was in the fray, Parrikar would not have had sufficient time to campaign in other constituencies.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Monserrate-backs-out-of-contest-for-Panaji-seat/articleshow/9425922.cms
