Parrikar’s son leaves saffron party, to fight as Independent

After he was refused candidature on two occasions by the Goa BJP, which was built by his father and former CM Manohar Parrikar,

Utpal Parrikar

on Friday announced that he would contest the “high-risk” assembly polls as an

Independent

candidate from

Panaji

, the constituency his father represented for over two decades. He also resigned as a BJP member but said he would “always have BJP in my heart”.

Utpal said he was denied a BJP ticket despite support from party workers and the people of Panaji. The party has pitched its sitting MLA, Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate, as its candidate for the constituency. “I don’t think these decisions are from Parrikar’s party,” Utpal said.