<p>Former Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikar's son, Utpal, on Thursday reiterated his claim for a BJP ticket to contest his father's Assembly seat, Panaji, while also warning of tough decisions he might have to take in case the ruling party denies him the ticket.</p>.<p>"I have already said I have informed my party that I want to contest elections from Panaji and I am confident that my party would give me a ticket," Utpal Parrikar told reporters in Panaji.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/goa-late-manohar-parrikars-son-utpal-stakes-claim-to-panaji-seat-ahead-of-polls-1046502.html" target="_blank">Goa: Late Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal stakes claim to Panaji seat ahead of polls</a></strong></p>.<p>The BJP, however, has said that the decision on fielding him from Panjim will be taken after assessing the ground reports.</p>.<p>Utpal also met several supporters and wellwishers at the Mahalaxmi temple in the state capital on the occasion of his birthday.</p>.<p>When asked if he would contest the polls as an independent if he is denied a ticket, Utpal said: "I do not want to speak about this now. Manohar Parrikar did not get anything in life easily and I too will have to work hard and I may have to take some tough decisions. I have asked the goddess for strength towards that end".</p>.<p>"...throughout Goa there are workers who had belief in Bhai. I will source strength from them," he also said.</p>.<p>"I will also stay within the BJP (and fight it out). When the time comes to take a decision, I will listen to the people. I have told the party and the party will give me (ticket). I am confident about it," he further said, adding that he would not spell out his future strategy just yet.</p>.<p>Utpal was tipped to get the Panaji Assembly bypoll ticket after his father's demise in 2019, however he was sidelined in favour of Sidharth Kuncalienkar, a Parrikar aide. Kuncalienkar, who contested the Panaji bypoll on a BJP ticket, however, lost the election to Congress' Atanasio Monserrate, who months later however, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.</p>.<p>A disillusioned Utpal had subsequently said that the Goa BJP had diverted from the path laid down by his father, a former Chief Minister, after his death.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Former Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikar's son, Utpal, on Thursday reiterated his claim for a BJP ticket to contest his father's Assembly seat, Panaji, while also warning of tough decisions he might have to take in case the ruling party denies him the ticket.</p>.<p>"I have already said I have informed my party that I want to contest elections from Panaji and I am confident that my party would give me a ticket," Utpal Parrikar told reporters in Panaji.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/goa-late-manohar-parrikars-son-utpal-stakes-claim-to-panaji-seat-ahead-of-polls-1046502.html" target="_blank">Goa: Late Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal stakes claim to Panaji seat ahead of polls</a></strong></p>.<p>The BJP, however, has said that the decision on fielding him from Panjim will be taken after assessing the ground reports.</p>.<p>Utpal also met several supporters and wellwishers at the Mahalaxmi temple in the state capital on the occasion of his birthday.</p>.<p>When asked if he would contest the polls as an independent if he is denied a ticket, Utpal said: "I do not want to speak about this now. Manohar Parrikar did not get anything in life easily and I too will have to work hard and I may have to take some tough decisions. I have asked the goddess for strength towards that end".</p>.<p>"...throughout Goa there are workers who had belief in Bhai. I will source strength from them," he also said.</p>.<p>"I will also stay within the BJP (and fight it out). When the time comes to take a decision, I will listen to the people. I have told the party and the party will give me (ticket). I am confident about it," he further said, adding that he would not spell out his future strategy just yet.</p>.<p>Utpal was tipped to get the Panaji Assembly bypoll ticket after his father's demise in 2019, however he was sidelined in favour of Sidharth Kuncalienkar, a Parrikar aide. Kuncalienkar, who contested the Panaji bypoll on a BJP ticket, however, lost the election to Congress' Atanasio Monserrate, who months later however, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.</p>.<p>A disillusioned Utpal had subsequently said that the Goa BJP had diverted from the path laid down by his father, a former Chief Minister, after his death.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>