Congress resolves to expel Goa lawmaker for anti-party activity

Panaji, Feb 17 (IANS) The Congress' Goa unit Tuesday resolved to expel a sitting legislator for life for allegedly working against the party in last week's assembly bypoll, in which the party received a drubbing at the hands of the ruling BJP.

Addressing a press conference at the state party headquarters, spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said that the state executive committee had formally resolved to expel St. Cruz legislator Atanasio Monserrate for alleged anti-party activity.

"This should send a strong message to those who do not have the best interests of the party at heart," he said, adding that Monserrate had made several statements to the media asking his supporters to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party during last week's bypoll in Panaji.

BJP's Sidharth Kunkolienkar defeated Congress' Surendra Furtado by over 5,000 votes in the bypoll which was necessiated after the elevation of then sitting legislator and chief minister Manohar Parrikar as defence minister.

The Congress claims that Monseratte working against the party had dented its chances of winning.

"The party will follow the process of natural justice while taking the expulsion decision," Kawthankar said, adding that the resolution expelling the legislator for life had been sent to the Congress high command in Delhi.