Panaji: Son of three-time Goa Chief Minister and former Union Minister Manohar Parrikar, Utpal parted ways with the BJP on Friday after the party denied ticket to him for the Panaji seat in the forthcoming assembly elections in Goa.
The junior Parrikar announced that he would contest as an independent candidate and said the time has come for him to “take some stand for my values… and let the people of Panaji decide my political fate”.
“I tried my best even during last and this election to convince my party that I enjoyed not only the support of all the party members, I also enjoy the support of general people of Panaji,” Utpal Parrikar was quoted as saying reporters this evening by NDTV.
“Despite that, I am unable to get the candidature of Panaji constituency. It has been given to someone who has opportunistically come in the party in last two years… That’s why I want to go ahead and let the people of Panaji decide my political fate,” Utpal said.
Parrikar Junior had multiple options. He was offered two alternate seats by the BJP, which he reportedly refused to contest from. He has an offer from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, who tweeted “Utpal ji is welcome to join and fight elections on AAP ticket.”
“I have always respected Manohar Parrikar ji… Goans feel very sad that BJP has adopted use-and-throw policy even with the Parrikar family,” Kejriwal had added.
“Manohar Parrikar has represented the Panaji constituency for more than two decades.
“This was possible as he enjoyed love and affection with people of Panaji which even I have developed. People voted for him as he stood for something… The time has come that even I take some stand for my values,” Utpal Parrikar added.
