I will campaign for Panaji BJP candidate, says Utpal Parrikar

PANAJI: Hours after the BJP dropped his candidature for Panaji Assembly by-poll, Utpal Parrikar, son of former Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikar, on Sunday said that he would campaign for party candidate Sidharth Kuncalienker.

"I have been saying from day one that whatever the party decides, I will comply with that. I will be working for the candidate the party decides," Utpal told ANI here.

Utpal also congratulated the state party leadership "for giving us a candidate timely." Earlier in the day, the Bharatiya Janata Party dropped Utpal`s name and named Kuncalienker as its candidate for the ensuing Panaji Assembly by-poll.

It was widely expected that the BJP would name Utpal as its candidate to get benefit from the sympathy wave for him arising out of his father`s demise last month.

Utpal said, "This constituency was represented by my father for more than 25 years so it is very essential that we retain it. I would do whatever is necessary so that the party retains this seat comfortably."

He said that maintaining connections with people is more important than fighting elections. "Election will come and go. More important is to maintain connections with the people and I`ll be working towards that," Utpal said.

He said that the people of the constituency have an emotional connection with the former Goa Chief Minister.

Utpal said: "I have been campaigning in Panjim going door to door for the last 15 days. When I would go to any house, a woman would come out and they would have tears in their eyes after looking at me."

The nomination of Kuncalienker, an aide of late Parrikar, was approved after much deliberation by the BJP`s Central Election Committee (CEC), said JP Nadda, secretary, CEC, in a statement.

The Panaji Assembly by-poll, scheduled for May 19, was necessitated after the death of sitting BJP MLA and then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Utpal Parrikar, 38, has a Masters degree from the United States and is currently in business. He had earlier said that he would take any responsibility given by the BJP.

Kunkolienkar first won the Panaji seat during the 2015 by-election. He again won the constituency in the 2017 state Assembly polls, but later vacated the seat for late Parrikar to be inducted into the House.Opposition Congress has fielded former state minister Atanasio Monserratte from this constituency.