As local leaders join race to stake claim to Manohar Parrikar's Panaji, BJP struggles to fill the seat

Almost a month after Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) tallest leader in Goa, the then chief minister Manohar Parrikar passed away, the party is struggling to fill the vacuum created after his death.

The BJP denied ticket to Manohar Parrikar's eldest son Utpal Parrikar and fielded his close aid Siddharth Kunkolienkar in the Panaji byelection scheduled on May 19. However, his political journey will not be as smooth as it was in the past.

A controversial but influential Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate quit the Goa Forward Party (GFP) to join Congress and contest on its symbol. He has shown his muscles after dislodging the BJP from power in the City Corporation of Panaji (CCP) three years ago. A panel under his leadership has recently won the Taleigao panchayat poll giving BJP a reason to worry as this area falls in the Panaji Assembly constituency.

Babush Monserrate maintained good relations with Manohar Parrikar, who had made him chairman of Panaji Development Authority a year ago. However, after Manohar Parrikar's demise he sees it as an opportunity to grab the Panaji seat held by the BJP from last 22 years.

"I am confident of a victory as the people of Panaji want change," said Monserrate.

The third candidate in the fray Subhash Velingkar, a former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader, has made the BJP more worried. The one time mentor of Manohar Parrikar and later his staunch opponent, Subhash Velingkar is a father figure to many RSS workers and BJP sympathisers in Panaji.

Contesting on a ticket of Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) Subhash Velingkar believes that he can demolish the BJP's supremacy in the city based on his honesty, network of workers and absence of Manohar Parrikar.

He said he was not against Manohar Parrikar as a person but as a weather pane leader.

"I started opposing his government's switching side on making Konkani as the medium of instructions at the primary level. It was an opposition based on the issues," said Subhash Velingkar.

Siddharth Kunkolienkar is banking on the sympathy for Manohar Parrikar. In the past, Manohar Parrikar had chosen him as his successor when he became defence minister in November 2014.

A source in BJP says Kunkolienkar is missing his mentor. He is missing Manohar Parrikar at a bad time when there is a virtual rift in the party.

"Chief minister Pramod Sawant does not have any clout in Panaji. The influential people are divided in GSM and Congress. It is a real test for Siddharth Kunkolienkar this time," a source told India Today TV.