Panaji: After BJP central leadership denied ticket to him from Panaji Assembly constituency, Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who quit the party, will contest as an Independent candidate from Panaji constituency.

Mr. Utpal said that quitting the party is the most difficult decision, but he is ready to withdraw from the poll race if the BJP fields a good candidate from the constituency.

Upset over the party’s decision of denying the ticket, Mr. Utpal has announced that he will contest as an Independent candidate and said that he will seek the support of other parties.

Aam Admi Party, Congress, TMC, NCP and Shiv Sena has offered a ticket to Utpal. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has appealed to all political parties not to field candidates against Utpal if he contest as an Independent candidate from Panaji.

https://24x7liveindia.com/goa-former-cm-laxmikant-Parsekar-quits-bjp

BJP has given a ticket to sitting MLA, Atanasio Monserrate, one of the ten legislators who had joined the BJP in July 2019 after quitting Congress. Monserrate is facing criminal cases, including a case of rape of a minor.

Mr. Utpal, the elder son of Manohar Parrikar, said the BJP is always in his heart and he is fighting for the party's soul.

He said the decision to quit the party was not easy for him. "It was the most difficult decision. All this while I was hoping that I won't have to take such a decision," he said.

He said he was trying to avoid this kind of situation (where he had to resign and contest as an independent). "I am not happy that I had to take this decision, but sometimes you have to take tough decisions. But I am ready to withdraw the decision if the party fields a good candidate from Panaji,” he said.

Without elaborating much, Mr Parrikar claimed that the denial of ticket to him is similar to the 1994 situation when attempts were made to throw his father out of the party.

Mr. Utpal referring to the 2019 Panaji by-election, which was necessitated due to the death of his father, he recalled that he was denied a ticket even at that time. "I was denied ticket despite having the support. I believed in the party institution and respected the decision," he said.

The BJP has fielded Monserratte's wife, Jeniffer, from the Taleigao Assembly constituency. The party has also given candidature to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and his wife Divya Rane from different seats.