Parrikar’s son not fielded in BJP 1st list for Goa polls
PANAJI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday named 34 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Goa but left out the son of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Utpal, and nominated nine of the 15 former Congress lawmakers who defected to the ruling party.
The BJP’S decision to nominate Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate from Panaji seat , which Manohar Parrikar earlier held, set off speculation that Utpal was upset and could quit. The party also named two couples -- Monserrate and his wife, revenue minister Jennifer Monserrate, and health minister Vishwajit Rane and his wife Divya Rane. In all, the party dropped one sitting lawmaker and two ministers. “I will discuss with my supporters and let my decision be known soon,” Utpal said.
A week ago, Utpal said he wouldn’t sit idle if the BJP nominated a person “who has criminal antecedents” -- seen as a dig at Monserrate who faces several criminal cases. “The kind of politics that is happening in Goa, I cannot tolerate it. It is not acceptable to me,” he had said.
The ruling BJP defended the decision, saying that the ticket was given to a “sitting MLA”.
“A sitting MLA has been given a ticket in Panaji. Parrikar’s family is our family. They are close to us. I had given Utpal Parrikar two options, from where he could contest. He had refused one option. We are still discussing the second option with him. We all feel he should accept it. BJP has respected the Parrikar family,” Devendra Fadnavis, who is incharge of Goa, said.
Manohar Parrikar, one of the tallest leaders of the state who was also the face of the BJP in Goa for decades, represented the capital Panaji as an MP between 1994 and 2014, when he quit to take charge as the Union defence minister. He died in 2019, after which Monserrate won the seat for the Congress but subsequently joined the BJP.
In choosing Monserrate, the party leadership appeared to have rewarded the Monserrates, who helped 10 Congress MLAS join the BJP in 2019.
Party functionaries familiar with developments said Utpal was offered the Bicholim seat where the party has been struggling to find a candidate since assembly speaker Rajesh Patnekar, who currently represents the seat, withdrew from the race on health grounds.
Immediately after the announcement, the Aam Aadmi Party and Shiv Sena both offered tickets to Utpal. “Goans feel v(ery) 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,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant hit back. “Hypocrisy! Person whose entire party & politics is based on shallow opportunism should brush up his memory & remind himself of his own filthy comments used against one of the greatest leaders Shri Manohar Bhai Parrikar.”
Monserrate will contest from Panaji, Jennifer from their traditional stronghold Taleigao.