Utpal Parrikar gives up hopes of BJP ticket, prepares to contest as independent in Panaji

PANAJI: After what could be termed as a royal snub or rebuke or even an insult by Goa election-in-charge Devendra Fadnavis, Utpal Parrikar has started preparing to contest as an independent from the Panaji constituency.

Sources close to the late CM Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal Parrikar have confirmed that Utpal is contesting the Assembly Polls from the Panaji constituency as an independent and has started working in that direction, which includes setting up a team and a war-room.

“Preparations are being made. A team is set up. Banners and posters are being designed. Social media work has started,” a source close to Utpal Parrikar told this reporter on Thursday.

While it cannot be said that Utpal has completely given up hopes of getting a BJP ticket from Panjim, he is more or less certain that he will have to go out all on his own, as senior BJP leaders like Devendra Fadnavis have hinted that Utpal may not be getting the BJP ticket after all.

On Wednesday, BJP’s Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis said that the party can’t grant a ticket to Utpal Parrikar for the state assembly polls just because he is former CM Manohar Parrikar’s son. Tickets are decided based on the candidate’s work on the ground and the winnability factor, he said.

“Manohar Bhai had worked a lot to establish BJP in Goa. BJP does not give a ticket to anyone only because someone is the son of Manohar Parrikar or the son of any other BJP leader,” Fadnavis said. He also said any decision in this regard will be taken by BJP’s parliamentary board. (Goa Media Network)