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Monserrate resigns, may form third front

NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, Jan 3 In a sudden development, the beleaguered Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Atanasio Monserrate, facing widespread protests and criticism from different quarters over the Regional Plan 2011, tonight resigned from the state cabinet headed by Mr Pratapsing Rane.
Sources close to Mr Monserrate, who has been at the receiving end ever since the Regional Plan 2011 was notified, confirmed the reports of his tendering resignation from the council of ministers.

The Town and Country Planning Minister has been in the eye of the storm following the notification of the Regional Plan 2011 and the storm was growing day by day. Last month a huge meeting was held at the Azad Maidan against the plan and even the church had come out openly against it.
Following the Church’s open criticism the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Wilfred de Souza, and the Public Works Department Minister, Mr Ramkrishna Dhavlikar, had demanded scrapping of the Regional Plan 2011.

They further said that Mr Monserrate was deeply hurt because his cabinet colleagues, who were in the know of the Regional Plan and were signatory to it opposed it when they found the Church backing the movement against the plan.

The failure of the Congress party to come to rescue of its under pressure colleague also prompted Mr Monserrate to quit the ministry, the sources said adding that none of the senior Congress leader either directly or indirectly rushed to his rescue.

The resignation letter was submitted at the residence of Mr Rane at around 11.45 p.m. and the copies of the same were also handed over to the office of the Governor, Mr S C Jamir around the same time.

The resignation letter addressed to the Chief Minister reads as follows: “As we are ushering in the New Year, it is important that all of us contribute out bit to clear the misconception that has been intentionally spread to defame me particularly with regards to the notified Regional Plan 2011. You are aware that I have been tried and convicted not only by certain individuals and media but even by some of my cabinet colleagues.
Being hurt tremendously by this and in keeping with the standards by which I always lead, I hereby tender my resignation from the council of ministers headed by you and request the same be accepted forthwith. With Warm regards and all respects, I remain yours sincerely, Atanasio Monserrate.”

This is the second time in the term of the present state assembly that Mr Monserrate has resigned from the cabinet. He had earlier resigned from the cabinet headed by Mr Manohar Parrikar, during the Bharatiya Janata Party government, after he was stripped of the portfolio of town and country planning.
He subsequently joined the Congress along with Mr Isidore Fernandes, Mr Pandurang Madkaikar, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco and helped it form the government after the by-elections. Mr Fernandes, however, failed to make it to the assembly.

Meanwhile, sources said that Mr Monserrate may quit the Congress party in the next few days and tie up with Mr Churchill Alemao to float third front. They also said that Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party may also join with United Goan Democratic Party, which Mr Monserrate is likely to join.

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Monserrate resigns, may form third front

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