PANAJI
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday sufferedyet another major desertion as its former chief minister and ManifestoCommittee chairman, Laxmikant Parsekar, resigned less than 24-hours after UtpalParrikar, son of its tallest Goa leader, the late Manohar Parrikar.
Parsekar was among the handful of leaders of the core teamled by Parrikar and Union Minister Shripad Naik, who painstakingly rebuilt theBJP in Goa to a powerful force in the 1990s decade and has severed ties withthe saffron party after more than three decades in it.
Miffed at being denied the party ticket in Mandrem, Parsekaris expected to fight as an Independent against the official party nomineeDayanand Sopte, the current MLA.
He had been elected MLA for three terms in 2002, 2007 and2012 and was picked by the party to become chief minister when Manohar Parrikarvacated the position to become Union Defence Minister in 2014.
Meanwhile, in a damage control move, the BJP reached out toUtpal Parrikar and requested him to reconsider his decision to quit the party.
Indication of the party's outreach to Parrikar Jr came at apress conference addressed by former MP and spokesperson Narendra Sawaikar.
"Discussions were held and several solutions andsuggestions were given to him," Sawaikar said, adding that even now theparty would like him to reconsider his decision.
Sawaikar said the BJP party is like a family and all need tocome together and work.
The former MP said the party's decision on the Panaji ticketwas taken following feedback at the local level.
"Our party works in a systematic manner and decisionsthe party takes, everyone should abide by," Sawaikar added.
