MAPUSA
“It’s a decision which the party leadership will have to take. Right now, the information doing the rounds on WhatsApp groups is speculative in nature. The news has no authenticity,” Falari, a close aide of the deputy chief minister, told The Goan.
After swearing-in as the chief minister, Parrikar has to get elected as an MLA within six months from any of the constituencies in the State.
News was doing the rounds that deputy chief minister and Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza could vacate his seat for Parrikar to contest the by-election from Mapusa constituency, where the BJP is strong and given Parrikar’s influence in Mapusa town.
Falari further said in the larger interest of the party, any of the 13 BJP MLAs should be ready to vacate their seats for Parrikar to contest.
“I personally feel any of the 13 MLAs should be ready for the sacrifice in larger interest of the party and vacate their seats for Parrikar to contest,” he said.
Local (Mapusa) BJP mandal General Secretary Akhil Parrikar said all such news that was circulating was speculative and creation of the media.
“Let the government be formed first. The party will then take decision after Manohar bhai decides from where to contest,” the mandal general secretary said.
Most of the other councillors were also totally in the dark on the development.
“It’s fake news,” was former MMC chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar’s crisp comment.
Phone calls made on deputy CM’s mobile phone were not going through, while calls to his son went unanswered.
