Panaji: Following speculations about the possibility of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar contesting assembly election from the Curchorem constituency of South Goa, the Chief Minister now reportedly likely to choose the Panaji seat.
Sources close to Panaji MLA Siddarth Kuncalienker told The Hindu on Monday that it was now “sure” that Mr. Parrikar will contest from Panaji. Mr. Kuncalienker will have to vacate the seat for the Chief Minister.
Sources in the BJP said that Mr. Parrikar has been holding meetings with party workers and well-wishers from Panaji and has decided to contest from this constituency, though a formal announcement may take some time.
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Mr. Parrikar was sworn in as Chief Minister on March 14 after the results of State Assembly elections held on February 4 were announced. He has to get elected to the State Assembly by September 14. At present, the former Defence Minister is a Rajya Sabha Member from Lucknow.
Mr. Parrikar represented the Panaji constituency in the Assembly for five consecutive terms till 2012, having been elected for the first time in 1994. He resigned as an MLA after he took over as Defence Minister in 2014.
Mr. Kuncalienker, a former aide of Mr. Parrikar, won the 2015 by-election as well as the 2017 Assembly election from Panaji.
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Curchorem BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral had recently offered to resign as MLA to allow Mr. Parrikar to contest from his constituency.