PANAJI: The Congress inched towards getting halfway mark in the state assembly on Monday after Mr Atanasio Monserrate, the "unattached" Taleigao MLA and Education Minister, joined its ranks by merging the faction headed by him with the Congress party at a simple ceremony, devoid of any fanfare, at the Congress House.

Addressing journalists after merging his "party" into the Congress, Mr Monserrate said that he might have committed some mistakes, but the Congress high command (especially its president, Ms Sonia Gandhi), was magnanimous in allowing him to rejoin the party and thanked her for her generous gesture. He said that he has joined the Congress without any precondition.

Stating that he was happy to be back with the Congress, he further said that his comeback to the Congress fold would not have been possible had it not been for the efforts of the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, and the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Subhash Shirodkar.

Responding to a query from reporters about the fate of IT habitat at Dona Paula in his constituency, he said that there was no relation between his entry into the Congress and the IT habitat. He further said the government would take a suitable decision on the issue in the larger interest of the people of the state.

Mr Monserrate was welcomed in the party by the Chief Minister and the GPCC president, who said that the entry of the Taleigao MLA would not only boost the Congress strength in the state assembly but also help the party in consolidating its position in Tiswadi taluka, including Panaji constituency. The Congress MLAs, Mr Agnelo Fernandes and Mr Reginaldo Aleixo Lourenco were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister also said that the entry of Mr Monserrate had been pending for a long time despite Ms Gandhi giving green signal. Mr Shirodkar also said that the Congress never admitted any member in its fold with preconditions. He also said that all conditions for "merger" of the outfit headed by Mr Monserrate have been followed and added that no "difficulties" were anticipated from any side in future.

The Taleigao MLA, who was expelled by the United Goans Democratic Party on whose ticket he was elected during the last assembly session, returned to the Congress after three years. He had quit the Congress on the eve of the 2007 assembly elections after his wife, Ms Jennifer Monserrate, was denied a ticket by the Congress to contests assembly election from St Cruz constituency.

The entry of Mr Monserrate is likely to give a big boost to the government, ahead of the budget-cum-monsoon session of the party, and provide it with much needed stability and smooth passage of budget. Ever since the present government was formed every session has witnessed rumblings and the government had to face some uncertain times before getting its business passed.

With the joining of Mr Monserrate, the Congress party’s strength increased to 19 in the House of 40 members and sources in the party stated that some more MLAs – who are part of the government and outside it -- were in talks with the party to join its ranks. The sources also said that Mr Vishwajit Rane, the Health Minister, could join the party after the end of the upcoming assembly session in August.

The entry of Mr Monserrate in Congress and likely entry of Mr Rane is likely to deal a big blow of the group of seven. The group was already weakened after Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco, one of its founding leaders, had to quit the cabinet after being surrounded in a controversy following death of his close friend, Nadia Torrado.