I won't repeat mistake of quitting Cong: Babush
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 08 January 2012 23:33 IST
Education minister Babush Monseratte has said he would not commit the mistake of 2007 to quit the Congress for not giving tickets to both – himself and his wife Jennifer.
“Actually I should have stuck to the Congress and Jennifer could have contested on UGDP ticket”, he said.
Babush had quit the party in 2007 Assembly poll since his wife was not allowed to contest on Congress ticket from St Cruz.
Both of them then quit and joined the United Goans Democratic Party. Babush won in Taleigao but Jennifer lost to Victoria Fernandes in St Cruz.
The situation is no different this time, except that Taleigao MLA Babush wants to contest from St Cruz while fielding Jennifer from Taleigao.
He has already withdrawn his post-CCP election announcement to contest from Panaji, reportedly as a patch-up between him and BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, the Panaji MLA.
Babush has now indirectly hinted that Jennifer, if denied ticket, could contest separately, either on UGDP or some other ticket, but he would not leave the Congress.
Interestingly, there are no contenders for Congress ticket in Taleigao unlike sitting MLA Victoria alias Mummy and her son Rudolph in St Cruz.
Babush, on the other hand, is also trying hard to get a ticket for his friend Isidore Fernandes from Canacona.
However, chief minister Digambar Kamat has put in his weight behind BJP legislator Vijay Pai Khot, who may quit the party any moment now.
Kamat returned from Delhi yesterday after, as per the sources, getting a firm assurance from Congress political advisor Ahmed Patel for Khot’s ticket.
As Canacona and Poinguinim constituencies are now being amalgamated to make one Canacona constituency, the BJP is almost certain on fielding Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar.
Isidore, state his close aides, would contest as an independent if he does not get Congress ticket.
In this case, Babush would thus remain ‘loyal’ to the Congress while fielding his family and friends from other parties or independents.
This is the ‘Congress spirit’ prevailing in the whole party right now as many more heavyweight politicians may be denied tickets to their kiths and kins.
The ants gathered round pack of sugar never leave it till they are either scared out or till there is nor sugar left...The last 64 years has witnessed a big congregation of people around the throne---leaving their lucrative professions--may be because there is much more they can achieve, being there....And the powers to legislate can be very conveniently used to perpetuate winning elections and bring in even the dynasty rule under the nice guise of calling it democracy....