Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The passing of Taleigao MLA and former minister Jennifer Monserrate has dealt a significant political setback to the ruling BJP, making her the second sitting legislator from the party to die within the last ten months.
Jennifer Monserrate died on Sunday after a prolonged illness. She had been receiving medical treatment in Goa and Mumbai and had remained away from public and political activities for several months due to her health.
Her death follows the demise of Ponda MLA and former Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik in October 2025. With two sitting legislators lost within a year, the BJP’s strength in the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly has now come down to 26.
Both leaders began their political careers in the Congress before joining the BJP. Ravi Naik entered the BJP ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, while Jennifer Monserrate joined the ruling party in 2019 as part of the merger of 10 Congress MLAs.
The Taleigao and Ponda Assembly constituencies are now expected to remain without elected representatives until the next Assembly elections, which are due in early 2027. Although the Election Commission had initiated the process for a by-election in Ponda after Ravi Naik’s death, the Bombay High Court at Goa later set aside the notification, leaving the seat vacant.
The state cabinet also continues to function with one ministerial vacancy, as the portfolio held by Ravi Naik has not yet been filled.
Over the past decade, the BJP has lost several prominent leaders while in government. Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar died in office in March 2019 after battling pancreatic cancer. Earlier that year, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza also passed away following a prolonged illness.
In 2012, Tourism and Environment Minister Matanhy Saldanha died shortly after taking office, while former Goa Assembly Speaker and BJP leader Anant Vishnu Shet passed away in 2020.
