Babush NOT to contest from Panaji
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 06 August 2011 20:45 IST
Babush after winning CCP poll
Education minister Babush Monseratte has clarified that he would not contest next Assembly poll from Panaji constituency.
The Taleigao MLA had announced after his victory in Panaji Corporation poll that his next mantra would be “Chalo Panaji”.
He had even opened his office in Panaji, which is now non-functional.
In spite of a strong peoples’ movement against Babush, his panel had succeeded in winning the poll, though with a wafer thin majority of 16 in a 30-ward corporation.
The BJP, led by Panaji MLA and opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, had received a severe beating in the poll held in March.
In fact the corporation poll had literally become a battle for Panaji seat of Assembly since Babush had entered the corporation poll with an announcement of contesting from Panaji in the Assembly poll.
The sudden volte face by Babush now has raised eyebrows in political circle.
Panaji Mayor Yatin Parekh, during the corporation poll, had consistently stated that Parrikar has been winning Panaji seat with active support from Babush.
The talk of the town now is that history has repeated once again with a secret pact being worked out between Parrikar and Babush.
Sources close to Babush also claim that he would now contest from St Cruz constituency while his wife Jennifer would contest from Taleigao, his home constituency.
Babush, if asked, however says he would take a decision in this regard only when Assembly election is announced.
The Congress is planning to suggest to the Election Commission of India to hold Assembly poll by February or March by recommending dissolution of the existing House by October.
Babush, a Congressman now, had contested from Taleigao as the candidate of the United Goans Democratic Party in 2007.
He had quit the Congress since the ruling party had refused ticket to his wife Jennifer from St Cruz.
Jennifer, the UGDP candidate, had lost the election against Congress MLA Victoria Fernandes.
Known more popularly as Mummy, Victoria is now planning to field her son Rudolf from St Cruz.
