Goa Polls: BJP urged Parrikar's son reconsider quitting party

Panaji: BJP national General Secretary CT Ravi asked Utpal Parrikar, former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's son, to reconsider his resignation from the party, Asian News International reported (ANI).

CT Ravi told ANI that Manohar Parikkar has always worked for BJP's victory, and therefore he is requesting Manohar's son to reconsider his decision and fulfil his father's dream.

Utpal Parrikar gave up party membership after being denied a BJP ticket for the upcoming Goa assembly elections from the Panaji constituency. BJP gave a chance to Congress defector Atanasio Babush Monserrate instead of Utpal. After his resignation, Utpal had announced that he would be contesting as an independent.

Meanwhile, CT Ravi further said that only BJP could serve Goa a stable government. He added that Amit Shah would be visiting the state on January 30.

It was last week, Utpal announced his decision to contest as an independent from Panaji. He said that Panjajim people voted for his father all these years because he stood for certain values, which Utpal himself have. The time has arrived for him to stand up to those values, Utpal had said.

On Thursday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the BJP centre leaders were in talks with Utpal Parrikar and had offered him two Goan constituencies to contest in the upcoming polls. BJP had released the list of 34 candidates for the state elections last week.

Goa Assembly elections are scheduled on February 14, and vote-counting on March 10.