. Congress party on Wednesday announced former minister Atanasio Monserratte as its candidate for upcoming Panaji assembly by-election while BJP began process to shortlist the candidate.

The election for Panaji assembly segment has been scheduled on May 19. The seat has fallen vacant after then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s death on March 17.

All India Congress Committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik on Tuesday announced that party President Rahul Gandhi has approved candidature of Monserratte for the ensuing by-election to Panaji constituency of Legislative Assembly of Goa.

Monserratte, who was vice president of BJP ally Goa Forward Party, had resigned last week to join Congress. Monserratte was a minister in erstwhile Manohar Parrikar, Digambar Kamat and Pratapsinh Rane governments.

BJP, which will be fighting to retain the constituency, has began the process to shortlist the candidates.

BJP Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar said that a meeting of corporators affiliated to party from Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) was held to discuss the name of probables.

Party’s Panaji unit also met and discussed the probable candidates, he stated.

While Tendulkar refused to divulge the probables, party sources stated that Utpal Parrikar, son of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and former MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar, are in the race for the ticket to contest from Panaji constituency.