This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

BJP May Lose Manohar Parrikar's Assembly Seat To Congress

Congress is leading by 1,500 votes in the assembly seat of Panaji.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Panaji Assembly constituency, Sidharth Kuncalienker, is facing a tough fight from Congress’ Atanasio Monserratte.

Monserratte is leading by around 1,500 votes currently.

The bypoll in Panaji was necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA Manohar Parrikar. The seat is important for the BJP because the party has held it since 1994.

There were initially speculations that the BJP will field Parrikar’s elder son Utpal from Panaji. Utpal later said that he would campaign for the BJP candidate.

“The constituency was represented by my father for more than 25 years so it is very essential that we retain it. I would do whatever is necessary so that the party retains this seat comfortably,” Utpal was quoted as saying by ANI.

Panaji, according to Moneycontrol, was being seen as a battle of prestige for the BJP, which wanted to dedicate the win to Parrikar.

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.