Goa assembly polls: Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal to contest from Panaji as independent candidate

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21

A day after he was denied a BJP ticket from Panaji, the constituency of his late father Manohar Parrikar, Utpal Parrikar quit the party on Friday.

The son of the senior BJP leader, a former Goa CM and Defence Minister, said he will contest the coming Assembly elections from Panaji as an Independent candidate.

The BJP on Thursday fielded incumbent MLA Atanasio Monserrate from Panaji.

“I was left with no other choice. I have resigned from the party and I will be contesting as an independent from Panaji,” Utpal Parrikar was quoted as saying.

He also said that resignation was a formality and that the BJP will “always remain in his heart”.

“It is a difficult choice for me but I am doing it for the people of Goa. No one should be worried about my political future, people of Goa will do it,” he said.

Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the BJP had offered him “two options” one of which he had turned down. Sources said that senior leaders are “trying to make him see the reason via family members”.

Utpal, however, said he was fighting for values he believes.

“Let people of Panaji decide. I cannot negotiate with my party,” he said.

On whether he will seek the support of other political parties, Utpal said the only platform for him was the BJP.

“If not BJP, then I will (contest as) an independent. I will not go for any other party,” Parrikar said.

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