PANAJI
BJP State president Damodar (Damu) Naik on Wednesday said the party will step in to resolve the dispute between Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and St Cruz MLA Rodolfo Fernandes over Monserrate’s plan to open an office in
the constituency.
Naik said the leadership will call both leaders for discussions and stressed that the BJP does not operate two party offices in the same constituency, asserting that the issue would be settled through dialogue to maintain unity.
On the 2027 Assembly elections, Naik said the BJP has a defined system for candidate selection and ticket distribution will be decided at the appropriate time through the party’s internal process.
Monserrate, meanwhile, insisted the office in St Cruz was not a party office but a personal one.
“I don’t think I need to take permission from anyone to open a personal office anywhere,” he said.
He also dismissed speculation that he may shift to St Cruz for the next polls.
“There are all sorts of rumours floating around. But I am not leaving Panaji. I will contest from Panaji itself,” Monserrate said.
Fernandes had publicly expressed unease over Monserrate’s move to open an office in St Cruz and even accused him of fomenting divisions among his supporters.
