Panaji: As promised earlier, the Shiv Sena has pledged support to former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal Parrikar, who contested as an independent candidate from the Panaji constituency.

Shiv Sena has dropped its candidate from the Panaji seat. Earlier, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has urged the opposition parties to back Utpal Parrikar if he did not get a bjp ticket to contest from Panaji.

"We're keeping our word. Shiv Sena is withdrawing its candidate Shailendra Velingkar from Panaji. Not just that, our workers will fully support Utpal Parrikar. We believe that the battle for Panaji is just about the election, but also about the purification of Goa Politics (sic)," Sanjay Raut said in a tweet tagging Maharashtra minister Aditya Thackeray.

Mr Raut's tweet included a quote from Utpal Parrikar, apparently targeting the BJP for choosing Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate: "You will give the ticket to the person with the criminal antecedent in the constituency represented by late Manohar Parrikar?"

BJP has refused to give a ticket to Utpal from the Panaji constituency. Goa elections in-charge Devendra Fadnavis openly said that the party will not support dynast. However, the ruling BJP has given tickets to husband and wife in a few Assembly constituencies in Goa. Which will go for elections on February 14.