Atanasio Monserrate

Atanasio Monserrate, also known as “Babush”, is an Indian politician from the state of Goa. Monserrate is a three term member of the Goa Legislative Assembly.[1]

He was one of the ten members of Indian National Congress who joined Bharatiya Janata Party in July 2019.[2][3]

Political career

Monserrate contested his first election in 2002 on a United Goans Democratic Party ticket from the Taleigao Vidhan Sabha constituency. His opponent was two-term sitting member of the Assembly Somnath Datta Zuwarkar from the Indian national congress. Monserrate defeated Zuwarkar by about two thousand votes and was elected for the very first time to the Goa assembly.[4]

Monserrate was made a Minister of Town and Country Planning in the Manohar Parrikar led Government. In 2005, Monserrate and two other ministers resigned from the Manohar Parrikar led Government leaving it in a minority and thus bringing down the Bharatiya Janata Party Government of Goa.[5]

In the coming by-election, Monserrate switched sides and fought the election on an Indian national congress ticket and won the election by defeating Silveira Agnelo Mariano of the Bharatiya Janata Party by about four thousand votes.[4] Monserrate was made a minister in the congress government under Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane. In the 2007 assembly elections, Monserrate was pitted against Silveira Agnelo Marian of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Monserrate won that election by about two thousand votes[4] and was appointed the Education minister of the state under Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. In the 2012, assembly election Monserrate vacated his safe seat of Taleigao for his wife Jennifer Monserrate and contested from the Santa Cruz constituency. Monserrate won that election on a Congress ticket defeating Rodolfo Louis Fernandes by about two thousand three hundred votes.[6]

In that same election, Monserrate's wife Jennifer Monserrate also won her election from the Taleigao Vidhan Sabha constituency thus making history of sorts by having a wife and husband to be elected to the Goa Assembly.[4][7] He was expelled from the Indian National Congress in 2015 for six years for "anti-party activities".[8]

Monserrate contested the 2017 election from the Panaji (Vidhan Sabha constituency) and lost to Sidharth Sripad Kuncalienker of the Bharatiya Janata Party by about a thousand votes.[9]

In July 2017 Monserrate joined the Goa Forward Party.[10][11][12]

Rape Allegations

In May 2016, Goa police arrested Monserrate for rape of a minor.[13][14][15]

References
  1. "Monserrate locks horns with Parsekar". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  2. 10 former Goa Congress MLAs, who joined BJP, reach Delhi to meet Amit Shah
  3. In fresh jolt to Congress in Goa, 10 party legislators switch to BJP
  4. "Election Results in Taleigao, Goa". elections.traceall.in. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  5. "Crisis in Goa as three BJP MLAs quit". thehindu.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  6. "Last Election Results in Santa Cruz, Goa". elections.traceall.in. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. "Either Jennifer or Tony may make sacrifice for Babush". Navhindtimes.in.
  8. "Congress expels Babush for 6 years". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  9. "Last Election Results in Panaji, Goa". traceall.in. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  10. Babush joins Goa Forward, to support Parrikar in Panaji, goanews.com; accessed 8 October 2017.
  11. Ponnjekars have reposed faith in Parrikar, says Babush, timesofindia.indiatimes.com; accessed 8 October 2017.
  12. Walkover for Manohar Parrikar? Babush Monserrate joins ruling Goa Forward, leaves Congress in the lurch, indianexpress.com; accessed 8 October 2017.
  13. "Goa rape case: MLA Atanasio Monserrate's police custody extended by 3 days". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  14. "Babush Monserrate gets special privileges in custody". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  15. "Before rape, Goa MLA 'bought' minor girl for Rs 50 lakh". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
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