Panaji (Goa) [India], February 13 (ANI): In the absence of the former state Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing an uphill task in Goa to retain power as Congress tries to regain lost ground and the new entrants of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress making the polls a multi-corner contest. Parrikar was credited to have been the architect of the rise of the BJP in Goa.

Panaji (Goa) [India], January 27 (ANI): Former Goa Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar offered prayers at Mahalaxmi Temple in Panaji on Thursday ahead of filing his nomination for the assembly polls contest.

Panaji (Goa) [India], January 26 (ANI): Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, on Wednesday said that he will file his nomination papers from the Panaji Assembly constituency on Thursday.

Panaji Nov 18 PTI Former Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikars son Utpal on Thursday said he will have to take some tough decisions if he is not given a ticket by the ruling BJP to contest the upcoming Goa assembly polls from PanajiReiterating his intention to contest the 2022 elections on a BJP ticket from the Panaji Assembly segment he expressed confidence about getting his partys nomination from the seat which was represented for long by his father a former Goa chief ministerUtpal Parrikar was talking to reporters after paying a visit to Mahalaxmi Temple in the city on the occasion of his birthdayAsked if he will contest as an independent if the BJP declines to field him from Panaji he said I do not want to speak about this now Manohar Parrikar did not get anything in life easily I too will have to work hard and I may have to take some tough decisions I have asked the Goddess Mahalaxmi for strength he addedUtpal Parrikar said he has already informed the BJP that he wants to contest from Panaji I am confident my party will give me a ticket he addedThe BJP leader said he wants to stay in the party whose growth in the coastal state can be attributed in large parts to the efforts of Manohar Parrikar a stalwart of Goa politicsWhen time comes to take a decision I will listen to my people Utpal Parrikar said adding he would not like to comment further on future plansAfter Manohar Parrikars death in 2019 Utpal Parrikar was among the candidates shortlisted by the BJP to contest from Panaji in a bypoll However the BJP eventually fielded its leader Siddharth Kunkolienkar who lost the seat which was held by the saffron party for 25 years PTI RPS RSY RSY