Babush joins Cong by challenging anti-defection act

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 21 June 2010 17:37 IST

After three years, education minister Babush Monseratte has joined back the Congress.

Though he claims that the United Goans Democratic Party has also been merged, none of the UGDP office bearers support this contention.

The eight-month long talks finally concluded last week when Babush personally met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, while inaugurating Goa Niwas, a new building of Goa government in the national capital.

"I have joined unconditionally", Babush claimed after he was formally inducted in the party at Congress Bhavan today afternoon.

Chief minister Digambar Kamat also claimed no reshuffle of portfolios is on cards ‘immediately'.

Sources however claim that Babush has agreed to join the Congress on a condition that at least one ‘lucrative' portfolio, possibly the urban development, would be allotted to him. It is presently held by Joaquim Alemao.

There is also a speculation that the Congress, which is now 19 in the 40-member House, would sideline the two-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, including its transport minister Sudin Dhavalikar. He could be replaced by long-awaiting Pandurang Madkaikar, belonging to the scheduled tribe - the Gawada community.

"Congress has become much stronger with Babush joining us," quipped chief minister Digambar Kamat, while talking to media after the function.

UGDP secretary general Anaclet Viegas has however strongly refuted the claim of GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar that the UGDP does not exist anymore.

"Show one single office bearer, who has gone with Babush", challenges Viegas. According to him, Babush was expelled from the UGDP long ago, hence no question of he merging the UGDP.

What is interesting however is that the expulsion letter was never given by the UGDP to the speaker. Babush thus always remained as the UGDP MLA in the Assembly records.

Babush thus met speaker Pratapsing Rane on Friday, before deciding to join, and once again today, before joining the Congress.

Adv Radharao Gracias, the UGDP vice president and close associate of Babush, however claims that Babush has played this game with speaker's blessings.

In spite of the claims that the UGDP has merged into the Congress, both lawyer office bearers - Viegas and Gracias - are not in a mood to challenge this merger or file a disqualification petition against Babush.

"We don't have any other MLA to file the petition", claims Gracias.

However, according to Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho, Babush has to either resign or disqualification petition could be filed by any MLA of the House.

It is to be seen whether any other MLA, especially from the BJP camp, comes forward to file the disqualification petition against Babush.

The Babush episode however has proved that the MLA can join another party neither by resigning nor by getting disqualified. This is yet another challenge thrown up by Goa to the amended anti-defection act, which otherwise makes it mandatory to resign as the MLA to join another party.  


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Previous Comments

Congress Rulling in India survive because of

Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram otherwise when this party collapse and finished off. BJP surviive due to Atal Behari Vajpayee. Now it is time to BJP main leader to think over the activities of the present time party function very weak. Such as Ghadkari etc. they also speak againt opposition nothing else correct what their action is it will benefit or just for nothing, The best party who does not criticize other party. Good party I can say that is CPI.

- Domnick, Goa | 07 th July 2010 18:01

 

Yes Vanita, the CBI raids, Income-tax raids, the FIRs for criminal acts, disqualification petitions, etc appear to be the tools to keep the ambitious and corrupt politicians in check and away from rebellion and toppling games! long live our democracy!

- vishwas prabhudesai, loliem | 22 nd June 2010 15:51

 

Hey Domnick, hats off to you for such free and frank comments.All these gamblers, criminals,gangsters, drug peddlers and pimps will be busy collecting money for their next ten generations and some of that to give to their chamchas and shameless supporters, at the time of elections, to come to power again! long live our democracy where the thieves and corrupt criminals can repeatedly occupy the seats of power!

- vanita desai, Margao | 22 nd June 2010 15:46

 

Bravo Mr. Babush rejoining Congress again,

He hunt the hole now to hide because only corrupt party can save him from conspiracy or unlawfull activities.His friend Mickky scene he has seen does not want to follow the same,

Congress Goa open party for gambler,criminal, gansters, drug delears etc. So hide in Congress row when times comes gorrilla will hunt you.

- Domnick, Goa | 22 nd June 2010 12:37

 

Babush you all are POLITICAL PARASITES living on other parties. You all are UNITED GOANS (DEMO) PARTIES. You penetrate through the back doors and wait for the opponents to exit the front door.

- Emediavoices, Goa | 22 nd June 2010 11:16

 

What about the attack on the police, the 8th pass qualifications scandal and the income tax raids?

Are all this to keep a check on the Minister?

- vanita desai, Margao | 22 nd June 2010 09:53

 

I am sure Babush has fuelled and promised a consistent inflow of liquid cash from all Land deals to the CONGRESS. And Congress gets more stability against the BJP by making sure shots seats at the Assembly.

Hail Sonia Gandhi and her intelligence.

Or else RATS like Babush and others would end up over powering the congress to join hands with BJP to stay in POWER.

ULTIMATE MOTIVE = Eat More Money !!

- Amit, Goa | 22 nd June 2010 00:00

 

hah hah hah, anik eh devak sodlolo boil zotak bandlo,digu reh,you guys have no political tools just a bag full of fools

- massimo, emqon | 21 st June 2010 23:57

 

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