Panaji: Almost four years after he was expelled for anti-party activities, former State Minister Atanasio Monserratte joined Congress again on Thursday and announced to contest upcoming Panaji by-election on the party ticket.
Monserratte who was minister in former cabinets including that led by Manohar Parrikar, Pratapsinh Rane and Digambar Kamat, joined Congress party, after resigning from Goa Forward Party which he has joined in the year 2017.
Talking to reporters in presence of Goa Congress Chief Girish Chodankar and others, Monserratte said that he would be contesting upcoming Panaji assembly by-election on Congress ticket. The election, which is necessitated after demise of Manohar Parrikar, is scheduled on May 19.
“I have joined Congress for the development of the constituency. Parrikar during his tenure could not do much for the constituency on development and also employment front,” he said.
The former minister had resigned from GFP on Wednesday and also from the post of Chairman of Greater Panaji Planning and Development Authority.
Monserratte had got elected for the first time to state legislative assembly in the year 2002 when he contested on United Goans Democratic Party ticket from Taleigao constituency.
He was made State Town and Country Planning Minister in Manohar Parrikar-led cabinet.
In 2005, Monserratte along with two other ministers resigned bringing down Parrikar-led government and installing Pratapsinh Rane-led coalition to power.
He had fought 2005 Taleigao by-election on Congress ticket. He was then minister in Rane led government.
For 2007 Goa Assembly elections, he won on Congress ticket from Taleigao constituency but later during 2012 elections, he vacated the seat for his wife, jeniffer, who contested and won on congress ticket.
Monserratte won from St Cruz assembly constituency in 2012 election.
He was expelled from Congresss on March 11, 2015 for indulging in anti-party activities.
Monserratte contested 2017 Assembly Election from Panaji Assembly constituency on United Goans ticket but was defeated. Later he joined Goa Forward Party led by Vijai Sardesai.
