Goa, July 20 -- The strength of the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly has dropped to 38 following the death of BJP MLA Jennifer Monserrate, reducing the ruling party's tally to 26. The development comes months ahead of the state Assembly elections, which are due before March 2027.

Jennifer Monserrate, the three-time MLA from the Taleigao constituency, passed away on Sunday at the age of 56 after a prolonged illness. She had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Panaji. Though a devout Christian, she had expressed a wish to be cremated according to Hindu rituals. Her last rites were scheduled to take place at St Inez in Panaji on Monday.

Monserrate entered the BJP in July 2019 after switching from the Congress and later ser...