AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday attempted to exploit the unease in the BJP over the demands of the son of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar for the coming assembly election.
Utpal Parrikar had been lobbying for the BJP ticket for Panaji constituency, which his father had represented for a total of 25 years.
However, on Thursday, the BJP announced that Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate, a Congress defector, would contest from Panaji. The BJP on Thursday released names of 34 candidates for the Goa polls.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is the BJP in-charge for Goa, claimed the BJP had given Utpal two other options. Fadnavis was quoted by NDTV as saying, “We feel he should accept it (options). BJP has always given respect to the Parrikar Parivar... Manohar Parrikar did a lot of work to establish the BJP in Goa. But nobody gets a ticket in the BJP just because they are the son of Manohar Parrikar or some leader. If they have worked, they are considered.”
However, Utpal told reporters he would “clear” his stance soon, amid speculation he was insistent on contesting from Panaji.
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Kejriwal, who on Wednesday announced the AAP CM candidate for Goa, reached out to Utpal. Kejriwal tweeted on Thursday afternoon, “Goans feel v sad that BJP has adopted use and throw policy even with Parrikar family. I have always respected Manohar Parrikar ji. Utpal ji is welcome to join and fight elections on AAP ticket.”
Monserrate had won the Panaji bypoll after Manohar Parrikar's death on a Congress ticket, but subsequently switched to the BJP. Monserrate had also been a rival of Parrikar senior.
