Goa BJP MLA, ex-minister Jennifer Monserrate passes away

Panaji: Goa BJP MLA and former state cabinet minister Jennifer Monserrate passed away in a hospital here on Sunday after a prolonged illness, sources said.

She was 56.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed grief at the demise of his party colleague, who represented the Taleigao assembly constituency in North Goa district.


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The deceased MLA's husband, Atanasio Monserrate, is currently a minister in the Sawant cabinet, and her son, Rohit Monserrate, is the mayor of the Corporation of City of Panaji.

Jennifer Monserrate was a three-term MLA representing the Taleigao constituency since 2012. In July 2019, she was appointed as a cabinet minister and held charge of the revenue, Information Technology as well as labour and employment departments.

She was among 10 Congress MLAs who switched over to the BJP in 2019. She contested the 2022 Goa election on a BJP ticket.

"Deeply pained by the sad demise of Smt Jennifer Monserrate ji, MLA of Taleigao and former cabinet minister," CM Sawant said in a post on X.

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As the first woman MLA of Taleigao and a three-term legislator, she served the people of her constituency and Goa with dedication and compassion, he said.

"My heartfelt condolences to the family, and her countless well-wishers in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in eternal peace," Sawant added.