Panaji: Revenue minister and Panaji MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate visited Santa Cruz on Thursday and announced that he would open his office to serve the people of Santa Cruz. This created speculation in political circles about him exploring an option to contest the next assembly election from there.The constituency’s incumbent MLA, Rodolfo Fernandes, had joined BJP along with other Congress MLAs. Monserrate, however, made it clear that he and Fernandes have not clashed over the ticket, but that he wants a BJP flag to fly in Santa Cruz.He visited the office premises he had opened in 2011 to contest the 2012 assembly election on a Congress ticket. Incidentally, he had won that election from Santa Cruz.“I am the only minister from the Tiswadi taluka, and that is why I have decided to open the office in Santa Cruz constituency. Let’s help the people of Santa Cruz,” Monserrate said.When asked whether he wanted to contest from the constituency in the next assembly election, Monserrate said, “It will be decided by the party.”He reiterated that BJP would win the Santa Cruz seat, and that until he joined the party, BJP had never won in Taleigao.“Till date BJP has not won the Santa Cruz seat. Let us change the trend,” Monserrate said, adding that while the party has not given him any responsibility, he seeks to strengthen BJP’s base in Santa Cruz as he has a connect with the people.
