Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Forward Party (GFP) President and Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai, said that Utpal is a rightful heir to carry forward his father former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar’s legacy in Panjim.
Utpal, the elder son of Manohar Parrikar, has always kept himself away from political life. However, post Manohar’s death, there have been strong rumours that he will be BJP’s candidate for upcoming Panjim by-election but he has refused to comment on his intentions to contest.
“I am of the opinion that Parrikar legacy has to be kept alive but by whom is the question,” Sardesai said, while responding to a question on whether he supports Utpal’s candidature.
“First is whether Utpal is interested …if he is interested then certainly he becomes the rightful heir to Parrikar’s legacy being his son,” he added. However, Sardesai said that the final decision has to be taken by Parrikar’s family and BJP.
It can be recalled that Sardesai had supported Joshua D’Souza’s to get the BJP ticket for the Mapusa by-poll, post the death of his father, the former Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza’s.
Earlier in the day, Utpal told media persons that he has been asked by the party to campaign for their candidates for the LS polls.
BJP sources had claimed that party’s state general secretary Satish Dhond had met Utpal recently asking him to get on the field.
He refused to comment on whether he would be interested in contesting Panjim by-election..
