PANAJI
Current mayor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji, Rohit Monserrate, is tipped to be endorsed by the ruling group of councillors for the top post again and clinch his fourth consecutive one-year term at the helm of the capital’s civic body.
Monserrate, who is the son of Revenue Minister and Panaji MLA, Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and former minister and Taleigao MLA, Jennifer Monserrate, does not have a competitor from within the ruling group of councillors as yet, a senior councillor told The Goan.
However a couple of senior councillors have conveyed their desire to become Deputy Mayor when elections to the two top CCP posts become due before March 31 and continuity of current Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Naik, is not certain as of now.
Naik, a first time councillor, was elevated to the number two position by Babush post the 2022 assembly elections rewarding him for standing steadfastly in his support during the tough battle against former chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal. He has already had two terms as Deputy Mayor but Monserrate Senior is holding his cards close to his chest on whether to continue with him beyond March 31.
“At least two councillors who have multiple terms under their belt have individually conveyed to ‘Babush’ their desire to become Deputy Mayor but no one has done so for the Mayor’s position as yet,” a senior councillor who wished anonymity said..
Rohit Monserrate meanwhile said he is unaware about any decision taken by the CCP’s ruling group to renominate him for the top post again.
“I don’t know yet,” Monserrate Jr said, when asked whether it was true that he is set to clinch the mayor’s post for the fourth successive term.
Monserrate senior, whose word is final for the ruling group at CCP, did not take calls or respond to messages.
CCP Commissioner Clen Madeira, meanwhile is likely to notify the schedule for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor election in the next couple of days. The CCP Act provides for election to the mayor’s and deputy mayor’s post every year by March 31.
