Panaji (Goa): Expelled Congress leader Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate has expressed his willingness to join the national party again and contest against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the upcoming by-elections from Panaji.

The Congress party too has given a green signal for his entry, where they are now set to revert Monserrate’s six year long expulsion imposed in March 2015. Having no strong candidate to pitch against Parrikar, the Congress has all its hope on their former MLA.

Monserratte lost the recent Assembly elections from Panaji by around 1000 votes. He was defeated by BJPs then MLA Siddharat Kuncolienkar.

This afternoon, Monserratte apparently held a meeting with Chellakumar and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Luizinho Faleiro, expressing his desire to return to Congress.

“Babush’s expulsion can be reverted back…but he has to decided whether he wants to contest on Congress ticket,” All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and Goa desk in-charge Dr Chellakumar told media persons.

When contacted, Monserratte too confirmed that he is in talks with the Congress leadership and is ready to contest on party ticket against Parrikar. “The talks are still on. I am ready to join Congress,” he said.

The former Education Minister was expelled by the Congress party in March 2015, for a period of six years for his anti-party activities during the Panaji by-elections held in February 2015. In the past he had even expressed his willingness to join BJP.

However, Congress backed his candidature for February 4, 2017 election from Panaji, wherein Monserratte contested on United Goan’s Party ticket.

In 2012, Congress had fielded Yatin Parekh against Parrikar, while Surendra Furtado contested against Kuncolienkar in February 2015 by-elections. Congress was outrightly rejected by the people of Panaji.

Team TNV