Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate on Friday declared that one of the prominent points in his ‘Panaji-centric’ manifesto will be the removal of casinos from River Mamdovi within six months, if he tastes victory from Panaji constituency in the upcoming assembly polls.
Monserrate resigned as the sitting MLA of St Cruz and formally joined the United Goans Party along with Ramakant Borkar, who will contest from Cortalim in a ‘friendly fight’ against Congress.
Flanked by UGP president Uday Madkaikar, Panaji mayor Surendra Furtado and Borkar, Monserrate stated, “I am confident of winning in Panaji. In 25 years of BJP’s rule, the capital city has gone from bad to worse. BJP will be my main opponent.”
Referring to the ‘friendly fight’ in Cortalim with UGP’s alliance partner Congress, Monserrate insisted that Congress did not cheat the UGP because its candidate was told about the situation before he agreed to it.
“I agree that it is not morally and ethically right. But Congress has been kind in agreeing to it. There are around five to seven candidates in Cortalim. But when I consulted Ramakant, he said he was okay with the situation. I don’t know what a ‘friendly fight’ is. Ask the Congress,” he quipped.
Commenting on the ongoing tussle between alliance partners Goa Forward Party and Congress, Monserrate expressed confidence that the alliance will withstand the hurdle.
“I am confident that this hitch will be overcome and the alliance will survive. There will be a friendly fight in Cortalim. The same way they can have a friendly fight in Velim between GFP and Congress. It is a formidable alliance and has very good chances,” he said.
He further said that he does not view AAP as a political adversary in Panaji at the moment.
“Six months back, there was a wave. It was looking like AAP was a force to reckon with. Their campaigning has changed. They are using what they did in Delhi in Goa. Around 2-3 people you will see convincing people. They are not Goans. How can non-Goans convince us what we need?” Monserrate sought to question.
