Team Herald
PANJIM: The wait to learn from which constituency Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will contest the by-polls will last another week as a formal announcement on this is likely to be made after the May 9 special Assembly session.
BJP sources told Herald that senior party leaders have decided to keep the decision on hold till after May 9 to ensure that the GST Bill is passed successfully in the State Legislative Assembly. The party had earlier planned to make the announcement by Tuesday.
“A day-long special Assembly session has been convened on May 9. When we have waited for a month after the government’s formation, let us wait a few more days. We do not want any disturbance while taking any important decisions like the GST Bill and by-polls. Considering this, the party has held back the decision till after May 9,” a senior party official said.
Parrikar is likely to contest the by-polls from Panjim constituency, where he remained undefeated for five terms resigning from the seat to take up the job of Defence Minister. BJP retained the seat in the by-poll as Siddharth Kuncalienkar won it 2015, and again in 2017.
“It is now his turn to return the favour. He has anyway volunteered to quit the seat for Parrikar,” the source said. It is learnt that Parrikar has shown his inclination to contest from his traditional seat.
BJP’s Nilesh Cabral, Micheal Lobo, Carlos Almeida and Kuncalienkar were among six MLAs who have offered to resign to make way for Parrikar to enter the Legislative Assembly.
Meanwhile, Congress has not decided whether or not it will field a candidate against Parrikar. It is, however, likely that the party will support Atanasio Monserrate, if Parrikar contests from Panjim.
