Team Herald
PANJIM: In a politically interesting development, the Trinamool Congress is contemplating not fielding a candidate in Panjim and instead supporting Utpal Parrikar who recently resigned from the BJP to contest as an Independent candidate.
Utpal resigned from the party after openly asking for a ticket to contest in Panjim, a seat held by his father Manohar Parrikar for four terms. Several parties, including the AAP, offered him the seat, but Parrikar was steadfast on contesting only as an independent.
It is now learnt that TMC is close to taking a decision on supporting Parrikar, “provided he assures them that he will not support a BJP government should he get elected” according to a member of the senior TMC leadership.
“This is in line with our thinking ensuring the BJP’s defeat in as many seats as possible. We have fielded candidates in seats where we can win and therefore keep the BJP out and our alliance partner will do the rest. In Panjim, we feel that Utpal Parrikar is in the best position to defeat Babush Monserrate. We would therefore like to support him and will arrive at a decision in the next 24 to 48 hours,” a national level TMC leader said.
The last date for nominations is January 28, which gives the TMC only that much time to decide not to field a candidate in Panjim. Apart from Panjim, TMC has not yet announced its candidate from St Cruz.
However, it remains to be seen if the TMC manages to get an assurance from Uptal that he would not join or support the BJP and/or help form a BJP government. TMC will find itself in an extremely awkward situation if it backs Utpal without challenging him in Panjim and the latter supports the BJP after winning the seat.
TMC sources said that a final decision on supporting Utpal will be taken only after there is absolute clarity on Utpal’s “post-election plans”.
