The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 20 January, announced 34 candidates for the upcoming Goa Assembly elections.
While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will contest the polls from Sanquelim, Deputy CM Manohar Ajgaonkar will fight from the Margao constituency.
Former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal, who had been lobbying for the Panaji seat which his father had represented for over two decades, was not named among the candidates.
The disputed seat has instead been given to Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate, who had won the by-election on a Congress ticket after Manohar Parrikar's death in 2019, and later switched to the BJP.
Reacting to the exclusion of Utpal Parrikar, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Goans feel v sad that BJP has adopted use and throw policy even with Parrikar family. I have always respected Manohar Parrikar ji. Utpal ji is welcome to join and fight elections on AAP ticket."
'Talks On With Utpal Parrikar For Other Seats': BJP
"Sitting MLA has been given ticket from Panjim... Utpal Parrikar and his family are our family. We gave two more options to him but he rejected the first one, and the second option is being discussed with him. We feel that he should agree," BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said at a press conference on Thursday, reported news agency ANI.
Later in the day, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that BJP central leaders were in touch with Parrikar.
"Our central leaders are in touch with Utpal Parrikar. Delhi CM Kejriwal had said different things when Manohar Parrikar was CM and now he is saying different things for political gains. People of Goa understand this and will form BJP government again," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
While Utpal Parrikar had openly expressed a desire to contest from the Panaji constituency, Fadnavis had previously stated, “Manohar bhai did a lot of work to establish the BJP in Goa. But nobody gets a ticket in the BJP just because they are the son of Manohar bhai or some leader."
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that they will support Utapal if he decides to contest the elections independently.
"It's up to Utapal Parrikar (son of late former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar) whether to contest the Goa Assembly elections or not. His family has a huge contribution in establishing BJP in Goa. We will support him if he contests elections independently," Raut was quoted as saying by ANI.
Reacting to the whole situation, Monserrate was quoted by news agency ANI as saying:
"I can't compare myself to Manohar Parrikar. He is a big leader. He held the seat for 25 years. After people missed him, that was the time when I was elected. Now again this seat is going to the BJP. I have got high regard for Mr Parrikar and his family. I will not say anything about anyone. All candidates are important for us. We have to fight with everyone. I assure you that we will work hard to see the margin fo victory is high."
The state of Goa, which has 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, will go to polls on 14 February. The counting of votes will be held on 10 March.
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