Times of India | 3 months ago | 28-01-2022 | 01:39 am
Panaji: With Panaji MLA and BJP candidate Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate staking claim over the prestigious seat of Panaji after former chief minister Manohar Parrikar ahead of assembly elections 2022, Panaji is expected to witness a high voltage drama during the election as Parrikar's son Utpal too has thrown his hat in the ring. “Parrikar was a leader of different class, but I used to always say after Parrikar it’s me. This election, the people will judge Babush as a person,” Monserrate said. Monserrate, Utpal and Congress candidate Elvis Gomes filed their nominations on Thursday to contest from Panaji. Prior to filing his nomination, Utpal said that he will fight against money and muscle power, while Monserrate said, “Legacy is not monarchy, and everyone has to face an election.” Manohar Parrikar represented the Panaji seat for over two decades since 1994. After he was elevated to the position of defence minister in 2014, BJP had fielded Parrikar’s close aide Sidharth Kuncalienkar who had won the seat for BJP. Kuncalienker had also won the assembly election 2017 by defeating Monserrate who was the United Goans Party candidate for Panaji. When Parrikar returned to the state as the chief minister, Kuncalienkar vacated the seat for Parrikar to contest and BJP once again won the Panaji seat. After the demise of Parrikar, Kuncalienkar and Utpal, both staked claim for BJP’s candidature during the 2019 bypoll in Panaji. But BJP then too had denied candidature to Utpal. Monserrate, who was the Congress candidate then, made a dent in BJP’s bastion to grab the seat for Congress for the first time after 1994. Asked about carrying forward Parrikar’s legacy in Panaji, Monserrate said, “What is legacy? Legacy is not monarchy. The father is there and after that the son will come. It is a democracy. Everyone has to go for an election, my wife is Taleigao MLA she was not nominated. Basically, everyone has contested. My son is a mayor, he has also contested. If you have the wish of the people... that is the reason we are here.” Monserrate said that Manohar Parrikar was a leader with a different class and he cannot be compared to him. Before filing their nominations, both Monserrate and Utpal had a show of strength during their visit to the Mahalaxmi temple in Panaji. Monserrate said that priority of Panaji constituency is development and employment. When asked to react on Utpal’s decision to contest assembly election, Monserrate said “There are so many other political parties contesting, why are you taking out one particular name. We are going to fight with everyone. I know that the people of Panaji know me very well and I will get overwhelming support from the people of Panaji and win with thumping majority.” Stating that the constituency of Panaji is not new to him, Monserrate said that during the last five terms his panel has been governing the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and he is the MLA of Panaji since the last two and half years. “All parties have fielded strong candidates in Panaji,” he said. Reacting to Utpal’s allegations, Monserrate said, “Why are these allegations coming up now? I joined BJP two-and-half years ago and there was no allegation that time, the moment they realised I was not jumping ship, all these allegations started. Basically, these people thought that I would jump ship and they would get a chance. As clear as that.” After taking the blessings at the temple, Utpal said, “I am hopeful and confident that the people of Panaji will bless me. I will follow the footsteps of my father while working for Panaji. I will do 200% hard work in Panaji.” He also said that the people of Panaji are wise to vote for the future of Panaji. Prior to filing his nomination, Gomes, a former bureaucrat, said that he wants to become the voice of the people and give new leadership. He said that out of 22 years in Panaji, he has worked in Panaji for 21 years, including three years in CCP. “People of Panaji have got an opportunity to elect a good candidate,” Gomes said.
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