Azgaonkar joins Congress, inducted as minister

Panaji, Jan 8 (UNI) Manohar Azgaonkar, a BJP MLA from Dhargal, who resigned early today, joined the Congress and was inducted as a Cabinet Minister in the Pratapsinh Rane-led government in Goa.

AICC General Secretary Ms Margaret Alva, who welcomed Mr Azgaonkar in the Congress, told mediapersons that Mr Azgaonkar's resignation as a BJP member in the Legislative Assembly has been accepted by the Speaker.

Mr Azgaonkar would be sworn in as minister at Raj Bhavan today, Ms Alva added.

The former BJP MLA filled the membership form of Congress party and handed over it to party president Mr Ravi Naik in the presence of Ms Alva, Power Minister Digamber Kamat and Mr Atansio Monserrate.

Mr Azgaonkar said he is joining the Congress with all his supporters from Dhargal constituency, which includes Zilla Panchayat members and Sarpanches. Out of 52 members from 9 Panchayats in his constituency, 47 members joined the Congress.

Addressing mediapersons Mr Azgaonkar said though he was in BJP, his ''mind was in the Congress.'' ''I was with BJP for full two years. BJP is a communal party dominated by RSS. Though I had worked honestly with the party, I was not given a free hand. Earlier also I was in Congress, today I got an offer to come back and work for the development of the people in my constituency. I will work to strengthen the secular Congress party headed by Ms Sonia Gandhi,'' said Mr Azgaonkar.

Ms Alva informed that the resignation letter of Town and Country Planning Minister Atanasio Monserrate, who resigned recently, had been accepted.

She also appreciated the stand taken by Mr Monserrate not to continue as minister after public outcry over the controversial Goa Regional Plan 2011.

''Let people take the decision of his political future in the next Assembly polls,'' Ms Alva said.

UNI