Goa assembly elections: BJP released list of 34 candidates, kept Parrikar’s son out

However, to the surprise of many, the name of late Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal Parrikar was missing from the list.

Manohar Parrikar was the former Chief Minister of Goa and died of pancreatic cancer while in office.

“For our party, the Parrikar family is our family. But the seat from which Utpal wanted to contest, we already have a sitting MLA and it would not be appropriate to leave Panjim, which was his father’s constituency.

“However, we had given him an option to contest from two other seats and talks are moving in that direction,” Fadnavis said.

The BJP has fielded Babush Monserrate from Panjim.

After this development, the news agency ANI The report, quoting sources close to the Parrikar family, said contesting from Panjim is an emotional and emotional issue for Utpal.

Sources said, “Even if some family members convince Utpal to go ahead and contest from another constituency, it is certain that Utpal will not budge.”

The news agency also reported that several top BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah, had spoken to Utpal last month to persuade him.

But their response has not been positive.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP in Shiv Sena recently posted a cryptic tweet, seeking support from all opposition parties for Utpal if he contests as an independent candidate in Panaji.

While Utpal is yet to reveal his decision, the BJP has kept its candidature pending on six seats, one of which was offered to junior Parrikar.

Assembly elections will be held in Goa on February 14. Counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Goa elections, the Congress emerged as the single largest party by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House. But, at that time the BJP formed an alliance with some regional organizations and independent MLAs to form the government.

With inputs from agencies.