AERIAL VIEW
Utpal Parrikar was sidelined in 2019 bypolls, after Parrikar’s death, for a ticket to Siddharth Kuncoliencar, who lost to Babush Monseratte.
However, now Babush himself has landed in the BJP camp after the mass defections in 2019.
Hence, being a sitting MLA, Babush has claimed for the party ticket. However, Utpal feels injustice was meted out to him, and he has now staked his claim for the ticket.
Irrespective of whether he gets the ticket, Utpal has said that he would contest polls as independent against BJP, which could be a major blow to BJP in Panaji and elsewhere.
BJP says they do not believe in family raj, but the question that arises is if giving a ticket to Utpal becomes family raj, then what about Joshua D’Souza? Why was he given a ticket after Francis D’Souza’s death? Was that not family raj? Utpal is not wrong when he says an injustice has been meted out to him.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
For the last one and a half years, there has been simmering resentment within the BJP over the candidature for the forthcoming 2022 Assembly polls.
While earlier it was just Michael Lobo, who had been openly dissenting against the party and the government policies, probably to get a ticket for his wife Delilah Lobo from Siolim, it is former Chief Minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s son, who has been giving the party leaders sleepless nights.
Utpal Parrikar was sidelined in 2019 bypolls, after Parrikar’s death, for a ticket to Siddharth Kuncoliencar, who lost to Babush Monseratte.
However, now Babush himself has landed in the BJP camp after the mass defections in 2019.
Hence, being a sitting MLA, Babush has claimed for the party ticket. However, Utpal feels injustice was meted out to him, and he has now staked his claim for the ticket.
Irrespective of whether he gets the ticket, Utpal has said that he would contest polls as independent against BJP, which could be a major blow to BJP in Panaji and elsewhere.
BJP says they do not believe in family raj, but the question that arises is if giving a ticket to Utpal becomes family raj, then what about Joshua D’Souza? Why was he given a ticket after Francis D’Souza’s death? Was that not family raj? Utpal is not wrong when he says an injustice has been meted out to him.
The issue can snowball into a major issue if the BJP does not resolve this issue in the coming days as not just Utpal; many BJP cadres are with the former Defence Minister’s son.
BJP former MLA Siddharth Kuncoliencar, Dattaprasad Naik and many other core workers are considered sympathisers for Utpal and firmly believe he has to be given a chance.
But the irony for BJP is if the party denies Babush, it could be the final nail in the coffin as he has a good influence in mostly all Tiswadi constituencies like Panaji, Taleigao, St Cruz, St Andre and also Cumbharjua.
If he is denied a ticket, the party will suffer a major blow in these constituencies.
With Babush’s body language in the past one week, the party has conveyed to him something. Insiders say the party has asked him to move to St Cruz, and his wife would get a ticket from Taleigao.
However, Babush will be Babush, and sources say he is claiming another ticket to his son Rohit now. Strange, isn’t it?
Similar is the situation with Michael Lobo, if he leaves and joins Congress, as is being rumoured, he may land the biggest blow to BJP in Bardez, which has been considered as the saffron brigade’s bastion for decades.
Insiders also reveal that BJP has agreed to give a party ticket to Lobo’s wife Delilah in Siolim. Despite this, Lobo does not seem to be keen on contesting elections on the lotus symbol.
He feels he can cruise to victory in Calangute and Siolim on Congress ticket while struggling to win on BJP ticket.
Nonetheless, the BJP also has to pacify several other leaders on the candidature issue.
But it is strange how the party has grown in Goa; from not getting any candidate to contest in 1999, BJP now has 3-4 aspiring candidates in every constituency.
Comment