Goa Polls: BJP ‘Crumbling’ In State, Says Utpal Parrikar. Puts Up Condition For Withdrawing From Poll Race

The BJP has nominated its sitting MLA Atanasio Monserrate from Panaji. Veteran BJP leader Manohar Parrikar’s elder son said he is fighting for the party’s soul.

File Photo: ANI

New Delhi: Utpal Parrikar, son of late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party was the “most difficult” decision.

On Friday, Utpal announced his decision to contest next month’s Goa Assembly election from Panaji as an independent after he was denied a ticket by the BJP from the constituency which his father and party veteran had represented for more than two decades.

BJP has nominated its sitting MLA Atanasio Monserrate from Panaji. He is one of ten legislators who had joined the saffron party in July 2019 after quitting Congress. 

Talking to news agency PTI on Saturday, Utpal Parrikar said that he is ready to withdraw from the poll race if the saffron party fields a “good candidate” from the constituency.

Notably, Atanasio Monserrate is facing criminal cases, including a case of a minor’s rape.

Veteran BJP leader Manohar Parrikar’s elder son said that the party is always in his heart and he is fighting for its soul.

He added that the decision to quit the party was not easy for him. “It was the most difficult decision. All this while I was hoping that I won’t have to take such a decision,” he said.

He further stated that he was trying to avoid this kind of situation (where he had to resign and contest as an independent). 

“I am not happy that I had to take this decision, but sometimes you have to take tough decisions. But I am ready to withdraw the decision if the party fields a good candidate from Panaji,” Utpal Parrikar said, as quoted by PTI.

He claimed that the denial of ticket to him is similar to the 1994 situation when attempts were made to throw his father out of BJP.

“The one who has been witness to the history will understand what I am saying. It was the time when the BJP was trying to establish itself in areas where the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) was prominent,” he said.

He added that “those who have been with the party since then will know what I am saying. That time, Manohar Parrikar could not be thrown out because he enjoyed the support of the people”.

Utpal claimed that those people (who were against his father) are still in the party holding “high positions”, while a person like him is “with the people”.

Recalling the 2019 Panaji by-election, which was necessitated due to Manohar Parrikar’s death, Utpal mentioned that he was denied ticket even at that time. “I was denied ticket despite having the support. I believed in the party institution and respected the decision,” he stated.

BJP “Crumbling” In Goa: Utpal Parrikar

The former union minister’s son said that BJP as an organisation is “crumbling” in Goa. 

“When Nadda ji (BJP chief JP Nadda) came to Goa, there were five couples, who had sought party tickets (for the next month’s polls). Had Manohar Parrikar been alive, not a single male politician would have dared to seek a ticket for his wife,” he added.

The ruling BJP has given candidature to Atanasio Monserratte’s wife, Jeniffer, from the Taleigao Assembly constituency. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and his wife Divya Rane are also contesting from different seats.

In reference to this, Utpal Parrikar recalled how his father was vocal against “family raj” in politics.

About not getting BJP’s ticket, he claimed that some people thought they would not allow “another Parrikar” in the party.

“That is why I had to come forward and take the decision,” he added.

Utpal stressed that he had not sought the BJP ticket as the son of Manohar Parrikar.

“If I wanted to do so, I would have done it last time (during 2019 bypoll),” he said as he mentioned that the several people who were with his father, are currently standing by him.

“If they are standing by me, that means there is some reason,” he added.

As per Utpal Parrikar, by denying ticket to him, BJP has let him down along with several other party workers.

Goa election is set to be held in a single phase on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

(With Agency Inputs)