Team News Riveting
Panaji, January 21
Utpal Parrikar, son of former Chief Minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, a day after he was denied party ticket from Panaji.
His father has represented the constituency and now Utpal will fight from the seat as an independent candidate. After quitting the party, Utpal announced that he would 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 said. He added that resignation was a formality and that the BJP would “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 Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the BJP had offered him “two options”. Sources said that senior leaders were trying to convince him through the family members as Manohar Parrikar dedicated his life for the organisation and had played crucial role in establishing base of BJP in Goa.
