Panaji: Goa Forward Party following the coalition dharma has denied ticket to its Vice President Babush Monserratte.
Inclined to contest the upcoming by-election Monserratte has decided to contest as an Independent, after resigning from the party.
GFP Chief and Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai has said that Monserratte’s decision has saved the party from embarrassment.
On Friday, Monserratte announced that he would be contesting as an Independent candidate from Panaji Assembly constituency during upcoming by-election, which are necessitated due to demise of Manohar Parrikar.
“I have decided to contest. Since my party is not willing to give me ticket, I would resign and fight as an Independent candidate,” said Monserratte, who has earlier represented constituencies like St Cruz and Taleigao, bordering Panaji.
Monserratte-led panel is ruling Corporation of City of Panaji, which is a civic body for the State capital.
Reacting to his statement, State Deputy Chief Minister and Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai said that he would never support Monserratte’s decision to contest against the official candidate of coalition government.
“If he is contesting as an Independent, he is saving me from embarrassment. The stand of our party is very clear that when we are in alliance, we should not be contesting against the official candidate,” Sardesai said.
He said that they are yet to receive his resignation but in the past Monserratte had passingly mentioned that he want to contest from Panaji constituency.
GFP Vice President Durgadas Kamat said that Monserratte has been asking for Panaji ticket and party has denied it to him.
“Party has said that we are part of the coalition government and we cant fight against official candidate. We have to practice what we preach when we object to MGP contesting by election so we also can’t contest it,” Kamat said.
