{ "id": "epvsf32fgh", "slug": "babush-monserrate", "title": "Babush Monserrate", "updated": "2026-10-21", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.west-indian-politicians", "label": "West Indian politicians", "api_url": 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"https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.west-indian-politicians" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.west-indian-politicians.ministers", "label": "Chief ministers and ministers", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.west-indian-politicians.ministers" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Atanasio \"Babush\" Monserrate is an Indian Bharatiya Janata Party politician who serves as a Goa minister holding the Revenue, Labour and Employment, and Waste Management portfolios.", "snippet": "Atanasio \"Babush\" Monserrate is an Indian Bharatiya Janata Party politician who serves as a Goa minister holding the Revenue, Labour and Employment, and Waste Management portfolios.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.west-indian-politicians.ministers", "markdown": "# Babush Monserrate\n\nAtanasio \"Babush\" Monserrate is an Indian politician of the [Bharatiya Janata Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatiya-janata-party) who serves as a minister in the Government of Goa, holding the Revenue, Labour and [Employment](https://www.edgepedia.org/employment), and Waste Management portfolios.[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html) He is a member of the Goa Legislative Assembly from the Panaji constituency and was sworn into the cabinet of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on March 28, 2022.[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html) He earlier served as Minister of Town and Country Planning in the [Manohar Parrikar](https://www.edgepedia.org/manohar-parrikar)-led government.[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html) |\n| Current office | Minister, Government of Goa (Revenue, Labour & Employment, Waste Management)[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html) |\n| Previous offices | Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly (Panaji, St. Cruz, and Taleigao constituencies); Minister of Town and Country Planning, Government of Goa[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html) • [2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nMonserrate began his political career with the United Goan Democratic Party, winning the Taleigao seat on its banner in 2002.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2004, left it in 2005, and later moved to the [Indian National Congress](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-national-congress).[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) In 2007, he accepted a Congress nomination but filed his papers under the United Goans Democratic Party banner at the last minute, leaving the Congress without a candidate in that seat.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) The Congress expelled him in 2015 for helping the BJP during the Panjim by-election.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) He was one of ten Congress MLAs who joined the BJP in July 2019, following the merger of two-thirds of the Congress Legislature Party into the BJP.[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html) • [2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nMonserrate hails from one of the larger landowning families of the Taleigao area of Goa.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) His political rise coincided with the construction boom in and around the Panaji suburbs, where property rates are among the highest in the state.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape)\n\n## Career\n\nMonserrate entered the Goa Legislative Assembly in 2002, winning the Taleigao seat as a first-time legislator on the United Goan Democratic Party ticket, defeating his Congress mentor.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) He supported the BJP's effort to form a government and received the Town and Country Planning portfolio under Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) His resignation from the Taleigao seat was accepted by the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly with effect from January 29, 2005.[2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29)\n\nHe later represented the St. Cruz constituency in the assembly.[2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29) In the 2012 state elections, he prevailed upon the Congress to give tickets to both himself and his wife Jennifer, and they won in neighboring segments.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) He won the Panaji constituency in the 2019 by-election as a Congress candidate, joined the BJP in July 2019, and was reelected from Panaji as a BJP candidate to the Eighth Legislative Assembly in 2022.[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html) • [2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29) On March 28, 2022, he was sworn in as a cabinet minister in [Pramod Sawant](https://www.edgepedia.org/pramod-sawant)'s second-term government, while his wife Jennifer, previously the only woman minister in Sawant's first cabinet, was dropped from the council.[1](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html)\n\n## Electoral history\n\n- **2002**: Won the Taleigao seat on the United Goan Democratic Party banner, defeating his Congress mentor.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape)\n- **2012**: Won from St. Cruz on a Congress ticket; his wife Jennifer won the neighboring Taleigao seat.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape)\n- **2022**: Elected from the Panaji constituency to the Eighth Legislative Assembly.[2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29)\n\n## Issues specific to Monserrate\n\nA Scroll.in report stated that Monserrate was arrested after a 16-year-old girl from Nepal alleged that he had raped her, and that she told authorities he had bought her from her stepmother and another woman for ₹5 million (₹50 lakh). In February 2026, a special court in Goa acquitted Monserrate and co-accused Rosaria alias Rosy Ferros of all charges in the case, after a trial in which the prosecution was found to have failed to prove the alleged victim's minor status and other foundational facts.[8](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/goa/goa-minister-atanasio-monserrate-acquitted-in-2016-rape-case/article70618665.ece) • [3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape) Monserrate told journalists that the allegations were a frame-up, and said he had employed the girl at her mother's request but had dismissed her for allegedly misappropriating funds from a store he owned.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape)\n\nIn 2007, a citizens' agitation targeted Monserrate in protest against a Regional Plan that opponents said would open ecologically fragile areas to the construction industry; as head of the Town and Country Planning department, he supervised plans, granted licenses, and allowed conversions of green-zone areas to commercial use. Monserrate protested that, though many other legislators were involved in the Regional Plan, he had been singled out.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape)\n\nIn 2008, a rally led by Monserrate turned violent, with stones thrown at the Panaji police station; in the aftermath, Monserrate, his wife, and his sons were picked up and beaten in police custody.[3](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Casinos\n\nMonserrate has said that casinos in Goa should be moved out after 2027, with control remaining with the government.[4](https://www.lokmat.com/goa/babush-monserrat-statement-i-would-not-mind-if-utpal-parrikar-joins-bjp-a-a719/)\n\n### Panaji constituency\n\nAhead of an assembly election, Monserrate ruled out contesting from any seat other than Panaji. He said, \"मी पणजी सोडून कुठेही जाणार नाही!\" (our translation: I will not leave Panaji for anywhere!), and stated that reports that he would contest from Santa Cruz were baseless.[5](https://pudhari.news/goa/babush-monserrate-clarifies-to-contest-assembly-elections-from-panaji-sd22)\n\n### Santa Cruz constituency\n\nMonserrate, as a minister, announced his support for the BJP's candidate in the Santa Cruz constituency, while avoiding comment on party MLA Rudolph Fernandes.[6](https://dainikgomantak.esakal.com/goa/babu-monserrate-says-bjp-candidate-will-win-santa-cruz-constituency-kds04) A BJP party office linked to him was reopened in Santa Cruz after several years, with the party claiming it would help elect the BJP candidate there.[7](https://pudhari.news/goa/babush-enters-santacruz-bjp-claims-victory-party-office-reopens-ss88)\n\n### Assembly initiatives\n\nIn the Goa Legislative Assembly, Monserrate and fellow MLA Aleixo R. Lourenco moved a private member's resolution recommending that the government enact legislation to protect water bodies from pollution through misuse.[2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29) He also joined a resolution recommending that the government clear stray cattle from highways, where they were causing serious accidents; the resolution was withdrawn by leave of the House.[2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29) During the 2023 session, he tabled a starred question to the Minister for Health asking for the reasons for the increase in pneumonia cases in recent years.[2](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Goa: Wife dropped, husband 'Babush' featured in Pramod Sawant led-cabinet, Mint](https://www.livemint.com/politics/goa-wife-dropped-husband-babush-featured-in-pramod-sawant-ledcabinet-11648465851647.html)\n2. [Member Detail, Goa Legislative Assembly](https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member_detail.php?mem_id=29)\n3. [A brief survey of the controversial career of Babush Monserrate, Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/article/807672/a-brief-survey-of-the-controversial-career-of-babush-monserrate-goan-mla-arrested-for-rape)\n4. [Babush Monserrate statement on Utpal Parrikar joining BJP, Lokmat](https://www.lokmat.com/goa/babush-monserrat-statement-i-would-not-mind-if-utpal-parrikar-joins-bjp-a-a719/)\n5. [Babush Monserrate clarifies to contest assembly elections from Panaji, Pudhari](https://pudhari.news/goa/babush-monserrate-clarifies-to-contest-assembly-elections-from-panaji-sd22)\n6. [Minister Babush Monserrate backs party nominee in Santa Cruz, Dainik Gomantak](https://dainikgomantak.esakal.com/goa/babu-monserrate-says-bjp-candidate-will-win-santa-cruz-constituency-kds04)\n7. [Babush enters Santa Cruz, BJP claims victory, Pudhari](https://pudhari.news/goa/babush-enters-santacruz-bjp-claims-victory-party-office-reopens-ss88)\n8. [Article70618665.ece (thehindu.com)](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/goa/goa-minister-atanasio-monserrate-acquitted-in-2016-rape-case/article70618665.ece)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › West Indian politicians › Chief ministers and ministers*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/babush-monserrate", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/babush-monserrate.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Babush Monserrate\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/babush-monserrate. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Babush Monserrate](https://www.edgepedia.org/babush-monserrate)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/babush-monserrate](https://www.edgepedia.org/babush-monserrate). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Babush Monserrate\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/babush-monserrate. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Atanasio \"Babush\" Monserrate is an Indian Bharatiya Janata Party politician who serves as a Goa minister holding the Revenue, Labour and Employment, and Waste Management portfolios." }