Team Herald
PANJIM: With the announcement of election dates, Utpal Parrikar, son of former Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar has pulled up his sleeves as he is on a campaign trail in the capital city.
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The BJP Goa is yet to announce candidates for the 40 seats. However, Utpal, Parrikar, the son of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar through his door-to-door campaign, has given a clear indication to contest from his father’s bastion.
Interestingly, Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate, another BJP aspirant for the Panjim constituency, took a sudden decision on Sunday to keep on hold his campaign slated to begin from January 10. According to him, he will start campaigning only after the party announces candidates.
Though no one is openly coming out, there is a tension building up between both camps over who will get the BJP ticket. The BJP old guard wants the scion of the former Chief Minister to enter the poll fray. On the other hand, Monseratte is seen as a trump card across four to five seats in Tiswadi, inlcuding that of his wife in Taleigao.
Utpal Parrikar’s decision to contest the seat and ask for the BJP ticket has clearly caused a problem of selection for the BJP since it had assumed that there would no opposition to Monserrate’s candidate
On Monday, some BJP supporters reached Parrikar’s residence where Utpal reportedly held a meeting. Shailesh Ugadekar, Manohar Parrikar’s supporter, told the media that Utpal has announced his intention to contest from Panjim. However, whether he will contest as Independent or on a party symbol is not clear.
Utpal had last week taken to Twitter stating, “Now no looking back…..” To a media question, he said that he only wants the BJP to think over his possible nomination.
