Is it for real? Babush Monserrate has historically only threatened to stand as an Assembly candidate in Panaji, and he always withdrew. At an open-door meeting of his close friends and supporters held in Taleigao on Friday he announced that he would stand in Panaji or not at all. “I always wanted to fight against Manohar Parrikar and defeat him,” said the Taleigao strongman who has not tasted defeat since he first won an election in 2002. The question is, why would the man, who was ousted from the Congress on grounds that he supported the BJP MLA in the by-elections to the Panaji constituency, change horses?
Monserrate is remembered for many things, not all good. He was the MLA who was instrumental in bringing down the Manohar Parrikar government, although the main back-stabbing role was played by Digambar Kamat who went on to become chief minister in 2007. He is remembered for pushing through an ordinance to bring surrounding areas of Panaji under the outline development plan. He had to backtrack after then Santa Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes led a spirited revolt against him. He was the architect of the controversial regional plan that would have destroyed much of Goa. He led a protest outside the police station, was beaten up and arrested. From Taleigao he moved to Santa Cruz and won in 2012. He was controversially charged with rape of a minor. And he always wins the Corporation of City of Panaji elections. He is a real cowboy. You can love him or hate him, but ignore him at your own peril.
So, what is Monserrate’s game plan for Panaji? Is he more likely to win now that Parrikar is no longer the candidate? Does he want to get back at the BJP for targetting him? Or is he fed up with winning against minor candidates and like every gambler wants to raise the stakes. It could be a well-thought strategy or a rush of adrenalin, or both.
In the rest of Goa, not yet touched by Monserrate, there is a perception that the BJP could form the next government. The thought of spending another five years in the opposition has rattled a few sitting MLAs who are reworking their political plans to be in a position to either support the Congress or the BJP post-2017. Everybody wants to be in power. Monserrate has realized that being in a large political party is stifling. He needs space to be flamboyant and the master of his own fate. For all the dirt flung at him, he is a shrewd player of the political game and it is quite possible that his decision to stand in Panaji is a ploy to make gains elsewhere. With Monserrate, you never know until the last date for filling of nominations has passed.
