PANAJI
City Mayor Rohit Monserrate on Monday said he intends to contest the next Goa Assembly election from Taleigao, the constituency represented by his late mother Jennifer Monserrate for several terms until her death last month. “I would like to contest from Taleigao to continue my mother’s work and legacy. She had built a strong bond with the people of the constituency,” Rohit told reporters while speaking on civic issues in Panaji.
His announcement comes just over two weeks after Jennifer Monserrate passed away on July 19 and marks the family’s return to the political spotlight ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, Rohit’s father, recently became involved in a public dispute with BJP MLA Rudolf Fernandes over the opening of an office in St Cruz. Fernandes objected, saying there were now two BJP offices in the constituency. Babush responded that it was his personal office, set up to help people, and said there was nothing wrong with keeping it open.
The Monserrate family has held the Taleigao seat for more than two decades. Babush first won the constituency in 2002 on a UGDP ticket. Since then, either he or Jennifer Monserrate has represented Taleigao through successive elections and by-elections under different political parties. Jennifer served three consecutive terms from 2012 until her death, while Babush shifted to the Panaji constituency in 2019.
The family has also contested from St Cruz. Babush won the seat as a Congress candidate in 2012, while Jennifer unsuccessfully contested from there on a UGDP ticket in 2007.
Rohit’s announcement signals another attempt by the Monserrate family to retain Taleigao. With Babush representing Panaji and Rohit planning to contest from Taleigao, the family is expected to remain a key political force in the capital region ahead of the next Assembly election.
