Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who contested last year’s Goa assembly elections as an independent, has hinted at a possible return to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
He said the decision would be known in due course, but his “ideology” was that of the BJP, even though he had contested as an independent candidate from Panaji.
Utpal also said that he never had a change of heart and his “thought process” always remained with the saffron party.
He said, “Even during the election, I had said that my election as an independent was specific to Panaji. But my ideology and thought process (with the BJP) have remained the same. Whether I stay or work within the party ” Will know in time to come out,” he said.
The late BJP leader’s elder son also said that he was not aware whether any talks were going on among the central leadership in Delhi regarding his return, adding that he has been working with the same ideology since 2014. have been Utpal insisted that he was not joining any other party and that as Manohar Parrikar’s son, he would not betray the sentiments of the people.
“But how it will work officially, I don’t know,” he told India Today. How I will contribute in 2024 (general elections) will also be known in the future.
Utpal Parrikar quit the BJP before the Goa Assembly elections and contested from the Panaji Assembly seat as an independent candidate. He wanted to contest from this seat on BJP ticket but the party refused him. Instead, the BJP offered it to Atanasio Monserrate.
Following this, Utpal resigned from the party, arguing that he was left with no option. Utpal, however, had said that the BJP would remain in his heart. After Utpal’s resignation, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) offered him a ticket for his first election in Goa and even the Shiv Sena and NCP said they would extend their support to the son of the former Goa chief minister.
Utpal eventually lost to the BJP candidate from the Panaji seat. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that Utpal Parrikar was given the option of contesting from two other constituencies but he refused.
Meanwhile, the Goa leadership of the BJP said that there has been no official initiative to induct Utpal Parrikar and Laxmikant Parsekar. BJP veteran Parsekar had also left the party after he was denied ticket from Mandrem.
He said, “There are many BJP workers who have worked without tickets for years. They work to strengthen the party, but some left us during the Goa assembly elections when they did not get tickets. Winning ability Must be seen during elections.” Elections and same people cannot be repeated every time, otherwise people will not like it. Those who are doing the right thing from the booth level also need to be looked into,” said a BJP leader.