PANAJI
The sweeping victory of the BJP-backed Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate’s panel in the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections on Friday has delivered a sharp blow to Utpal Parrikar’s political ambitions in 2027.
For the son of the late Manohar Parrikar, the outcome is a sobering reminder of the challenges of building a base in Panaji and a reality check of sorts.
Monserrate’s team captured 27 of the 30 wards, leaving the Ami Panjekar panel, which Utpal backed, with just three. Also, except for Liberta Mendes e Achari (Ribandar's Ward 29), the other two victors are not really from the Parrikar stable. Leonido Furtado who won Ward 7 is the son of Congress' Surendra Furtado and Jack Sukhija who won Ward 17 is an AAP leader and heads the party in Panaji.
Utpal had sought to carve out his own space, positioning himself as a challenger to Babush’s grip. His campaign leaned on issues such as casino related problems, hoping to tap into public discontent.
Yet voters were more persuaded by Babush’s narrative of development and continuity.
The setback is particularly striking given Utpal’s performance in the 2022 Assembly election. Contesting as an independent, he had run Babush close, finishing runner up and falling short by just 700 odd votes. That spirited fight had raised hopes of a new political chapter for him.
The CCP verdict, however, shows how difficult it is to sustain momentum without organizational muscle and grassroots machinery.
The defeat of Surendra Furtado, a seven time councillor and Utpal’s mayoral hopeful, further weakened the challenge. Even seasoned candidates could not withstand the Babush-led political juggernaut on the electoral battlefield.
The BJP’s strategic backing of Monserrate has also tilted the scales.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hailed the mandate as a vote for development, signaling where the party’s weight lies and Utpal, despite his lineage and past performance, finds himself politically isolated.
The verdict marks a pause in Utpal's bid to establish himself as a credible political entity in the capital city and imbibe his iconic father's legacy.
It is not just an electoral defeat -- it is a reality check that legacy and ambition alone cannot substitute for ground level strength and voter connect.
