Panaji: After running short of winnable candidates, the Congress party has now started eyeing their former leader Babush Monserratte for candidature in Panaji by-election.
Monserratte has already announced that he would be contesting as an independent candidate from this constituency, which he had lost to BJP’s Siddharth Kunkolienkar in 2017 election.
The former minister who was associated with Goa Forward Party has already announced that he would be distancing himself from Vijai Sardesai-led outfit to contest from Panaji. GFP has refused to give Monserratte ticket in Panaji.
Sources stated that the Congress party which had to make Girish Chodankar contest 2017 by-election in Panaji against BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, is not having winnable candidates.
The party has leaders like Yatin Parekh, Surendra Furtado, Prasad Amonkar in their list. Interestingly, Prasad was election agent of Monserratte during last election while Parekh is known to be close to Taleigao bigwig. Furtado also had good working relationship with Monserratte.
Goa Suraksha Manch has already announced that they would be contesting for Panaji by-election while BJP’s choice seems to be one between Siddharth Kunkolienkar and Utpal Parrikar.
Political analyst contend that the entire political game of Panaji would be depending on Monserratte, who will be fighting this election to revive his political career.
