After BJP's snub, Utpal Parrikar to announce his decision on contesting Goa assembly elections today

Utpal Parrikar, son of the late BJP leader and former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, on Friday said that he will hold a press conference today to announce his decision on Goa assembly elections 2022.

After Bhartiya Janata Party denied a ticket to Utpal and gave the crucial Panaji seat to the sitting MLA Atanasio Monserrate, Utpal told ANI, "I will hold a press conference today to announce my decision for Goa Assembly polls 2022."

On Thursday, BJP released its first list of 34 candidates for the upcoming Goa assembly election and Utpal Parrikar's name was not added on the list. Goa BJP election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said thatBJP had offered Utpal Parrikar other 'options' instead of the Panaji seat.

"Utpal Parrikar was given an option to choose from two other constituencies instead of Panaji. He declined one while discussion on other constituency is underway," Devendra Fadnavis told reporters after announcing the first list of candidates.

Utpal's firm decision to contest from the Panaji seat is due to his late father Manohar Parrikar having held the seat for almost 25 years.

Responding to a query about BJP's decision to not field Utpal from Panjim, Fadnavis said, "For our party, the Parrikar family is always our family. But from the seat that Utpal wanted to contest from we already have a sitting MLA and it would not be fair to drop the sitting MLA."

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday had also said that the central leaders of BJP are in conversation with Utpal and have offered him two constituencies to contest election in the upcoming Goa Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has acted fast to poach Utpal by offering him an AAP ticket. Kejriwal took to Twitter to slam the ruling party and said they have adopted "use and throw policy" even with the Parrikar family.

"Goans feel very sad that BJP has adopted use and throw policy even with the Parrikar family. I have always respected Manohar Parrikar. Utpal is welcome to join and fight elections on the AAP ticket," he tweeted.

The election for the 40 seats will take place on February 14, and the ballots will be counted on March 10.