Former Panaji mayor Tony Rodrigues, a staunch supporter of BJP MLA Babush Monserrat from Panaji, joined the Congress Party on Friday along with former corporators and Taleigao panch members.
Criticising the Monserrat family, Rodrigues said that he has joined Congress to work for the development of Taleigao. "People are fed up with his family and asked me for help so I stepped forward and decided to join the Congress to change the taluk in the forthcoming elections," said Tony Rodriguez
Rodrigues said, “I am a believer in God. I have never cheated on anyone in my life. I don't want to betray people like Monserrat. I will not do as they did in many other parties. I came into politics from Congress. After that, we stayed with Monserrat. I went with them wherever they went but now it has become unbearable. I am back in Congress and I will not leave the Congress again.
After meeting the party leader, Rodrigues said that he is willing to join the Congress unconditionally. “I have not asked for a party ticket, but if offered, I will contest from Taleigao constituency,” said Rodrigues.
He further requested the people to vote for Congress in the coming elections and bring the party to power to end the suffering of the people of Goa. “People in Taleigao want to change. The BJP government has imposed projects that people do not want and are not beneficial for Goa.”
In the 2002 state assembly election, Rodrigues had contested and lost against Monserrate on a BJP ticket but soon hitched his wagon to Babush Camp, which eventually won him three terms as mayor.