Late Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal Parrikar could join Congress, likely to meet Rahul Gandhi?

PANAJI: According to a report in the Marathi publication Lokmat, late Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal Parrikar could be on his way to the Congress, in the event that the BJP denies him a ticket to contest the 2022 polls from the Panaji constituency in North Goa.

The report also claims that Utpal Parrikar could meet Rahul Gandhi anytime soon regarding the same. While, there is no confirmation from either Utpal Parrikar or the Congress camp, one thing is certain – Utpal Parrikar means business and he is hell-bent on contesting elections this time.

While sources claim that Utpal has already told his core group that he is prepared to contest as an independent, in case he is denied a BJP ticket, joining the Congress presently seems a bit farfetched and utopian.

Utpal Parrikar was not available for comment on the chances or possibilities of his joining the Congress or meeting Rahul Gandhi, but he did tell media persons that he may have to take “hard decisions” if he is denied a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket to contest the assembly elections from Panaji. In the same breath, he said he was ‘fully confident’ that he would get it. (the ticket)

Parrikar junior was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying: “I do not need to speak about that (hard decisions) now. Manohar Parrikar did not get anything easy in his life. Similarly, I too will have to work for what I want. I may also be forced to make some hard decisions and I pray for the strength… I (need)…to take these decisions.” He added he may also stay with the BJP to fight. “When the time comes to make a decision, I will listen to the people. I have told the party and the party will give me (the ticket). I am confident.”

Parrikar’s main grouse is that a party hopper like Babush Monserrate (who was elected on a Congress ticket, but switched over to the BJP in 2019) should not be given the ticket, instead a loyal party worker should be supported by the party.