No relation with Babush in future, now supports Zuarkar: Cong

Panaji, May 17(UNI) Ruling out any truck or relation with former minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate for his ''act of betrayal at the eleventh hour'', the Congress today announced its ''whole-hearted'' support to independent candidate Somnath Zuarkar in Taleigao constituency for the June 2 Goa Legislative Assembly polls.

Interacting with mediapersons here today, the party observor Sanjay Nirupam said the party would try its best to defeat Babush, who resigned from the party at the close of nominations on May 15 for denial of party ticket to his wife Jennifer.

The party would also mobilise all resources for the success of the party's only woman candidate and deputy Speaker Victoria Fernandes in Santa Cruz, where Jennifer will contest as a UGDP nominee.

Admitting that the party had never faced such a piquant situation in its electoral history, he said the party was left with contesting for only 33 seats instead of 34 it had announced earlier, with Babush backing out at the eleventh hour who is now contesting on the UGDP ticket.

The Congress, he said, may have some post-poll understanding, if necessary, with any other regional party including the UGDP, but not with Babush.

He did not rule out an understanding with even Viswajit Rane, son of Chief Minister Prtapsinh Rane and general secretary of the party, who also resigned from the Congress for not getting a ticket for the Valpoi consitituency, where he is now contesting as an independent.

Mr Nirupam also reiterated that the BJP has forged a secret understnding with Churchill Alemao's new outfit Save Goa Front.

The Congress further suggested BJP leader Manohar Parrikar to withdraw from contesting from Panaji as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a regular criminal case aginst him under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in connection with various alleged irregularities in infrastructure development works related to the IFFI-2004 when he was chief minister.

UNI