Congress MLA says will quit party to contest from Manohar Parrikar's seat

Panaji: A Goa Congress MLA has said he would quit the party to contest as an independent in the event of a bye-election in Panaji Assembly seat following the likely induction of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in Union Cabinet.

"I will resign as Congress MLA (from St Cruz seat) when bye-election is declared for Panaji constituency (Parrikar's seat). I want to contest as an independent from Panaji. My vision is to develop the constituency," Congress MLA Atanasio Moserratte told PTI late last night.

Monserratte, the former state town and country planning minister who was recently  charge sheeted for allegedly leading a mob which attacked Panaji police station in 2008, said he would not opt for Congress ticket, even if it is offered for the bypoll.

"It is common sense that I would not take Congress ticket, if I am planning to contest as an Independent. I will also field another independent candidate in St Cruz which I would be vacating to contest from Panaji," he said.

Monserratte said he never contested from Panaji seat earlier as he did not want a  confrontation with Parrikar. "Now since there is likely to be a vacuum after Parrikar's resignation, I have decided to contest. I can deliver development in this constituency," he said.

Monserratte had shifted from his stronghold Taleigao seat to neighbouring St Cruz constituency, while fielding his wife in Taleigao during the 2012 Assembly polls. The former Congress minister had to resign following public outrage against him for allegedly formulating land use plan (regional plan) to convert majority of agricultural land in the state for residential purpose.

The then state government led by Pratapsingh Rane had to scrap the plan after public protests.