Goa BJP MLA and former minister Jennifer Monserrate passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness, her family confirmed. She was the age of 56.
Jennifer Monserrate is a three-time legislator from the Taleigao Assembly constituency who started her political career with the Congress when her husband, Revenue Minister Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate was elected from the neighbouring Santa Cruz constituency.
The couple was elected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a group of ten Congress MLAs that switched sides in 2019. After the merger Jennifer Monserrate was inducted into the Goa cabinet and was given the portfolio of Information Technology & Revenue.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, in a statement of tribute, said her stint as a State legislator was “dedicated, compassionate and dedicated” to the people of Taleigao and Goa. He said that she was the first girl MLA from Taleigao and expressed his sympathies to her family and following.
The BJP also expressed condolences over her death and said that she gave her utmost to her constituency and had been with it with sincerity and commitment.
Over the past couple of months, Jennifer Monserrate avoided the public eye mostly as she worried about her health.
After her husband, Atanasio Monserrate (who is now Minister of Revenue in Goa), and her son, Rohit Monserrate, Mayor of Panaji.
Her death comes after a noteworthy political career in the Goa Legislative Assembly where she played a prominent role in the State political scene for several years.