Monserratte expects 'Kejriwal style' win in civic polls

Panaji, March4: Expelled Congress leader Atanasio Monserratte, who has fielded a panel for the upcoming Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) polls, said they will have a "Arvind Kejriwal style" victory against the ruling BJP.

"I will be having 'Arvind Kejriwal style' sweep in CCP polls. Why I am saying this is because the way he (Kejriwal) wiped out BJP in Delhi..almost that kind of sweep I would be able to have in the elections," Monserratte said on the sidelines of the election campaign.

The 30 seats corporation, the civic body governing state capital of Panaji, will go to polls on March 6. The polls are crucial as the body covers Panaji constituency, a fiefdom of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Monserratte who has fielded 30 nominees and is confident of winning on 27 seats. The legislator was expelled by Congress for working against the party in February last year during the Panaji constituency by-election, which was necessitated after Parrikar was elevated to the Union cabinet.

Monserratte, who currently represents St Cruz constituency, said if his panel gets majority in the civic body polls, he would contest on Panaji seat in the next Assembly polls. "Last time (during by-poll), I wanted to contest but did not want to have division of votes which would given edge to BJP. I also didn't want to leave my constituency (St Cruz) mid-way," he said.

The legislator said he can win in Panaji constituency even if Parrikar is pitted against him. Monserratte was state Education Minister in the Digambar Kamat-led Congress government, which was in power during 2007-2012.

PTI