BJP MLA's death brings Goa Assembly strength down to 38 ahead of polls next year

BJP MLA Jennifer Monserrate died in Panaji after a prolonged illness, reducing the Goa Assembly's strength to 38. Her death brings the BJP's tally down to 26, though the ruling alliance still holds a comfortable majority.Jennifer Monserrate, a three-term MLA from Taleigao in North Goa, died at a private hospital in Panaji after a prolonged illness. (Photo: Social media)The strength of the 40-member Goa Assembly has fallen to 38 after the death of BJP MLA Jennifer Monserrate, bringing the party's tally down to 26 ahead of the state elections due next year. Monserrate, 56, a three-term MLA from Taleigao in North Goa, died at a private hospital in Panaji on Sunday after a prolonged illness. A former minister in the Pramod Sawant-led cabinet, she had joined the BJP from the Congress in July 2019.With Monserrate's death and the death of Ponda MLA Ravi Naik in October last year, the effective strength of the Assembly now stands at 38. The BJP has 26 MLAs in the House, but the ruling side continues to have the support of three Independents and two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislators, taking the alliance's effective strength to 31.The Opposition has seven MLAs, comprising three from the Congress, two from the Aam Aadmi Party, and one each from the Goa Forward Party and the Revolutionary Goans Party.Monserrate, a devout Christian, will be cremated as per Hindu rituals at St Inez in Panaji on Monday, sources said. "She had expressed her wish to be cremated under Hindu rites," said Uday Madkaikar, a close family associate and former mayor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji. In April this year, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court restrained the Election Commission of India from holding a by-election to the Ponda constituency, observing that only a few months remained before the next Assembly elections, which are due before March 2027. Monserrate's husband, Atanasio Monserrate, is a minister in the Sawant cabinet, while her son, Rohit Monserrate, is the mayor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji.Monserrate's death has reduced the Assembly's strength to 38 and the BJP's tally to 26, though the ruling alliance retains an effective strength of 31 in the House. - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 29, 2026 20:34 IST