Utpal Parrikar Forges Unprecedented Coalition for Panaji Municipal Elections
In a significant political development in Goa, Utpal Parrikar, the son of former defence minister Manohar Parrikar, has formed an unexpected alliance with Congress functionary Surendra Furtado and other political figures to challenge the dominant panel led by Panaji MLA Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate in the upcoming Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections.
Cross-Party Unity Under 'Ami Panjekar' Banner
The coalition represents a remarkable coming together of former political adversaries. Surendra Furtado has reconciled with his former critics, Dattaprasad Naik and ex-Panaji mayor Vaidehi Naik, who were both part of the BJP during Manohar Parrikar's tenure as Panaji MLA. They have joined forces with former councillor Menino da Cruz, who, like Furtado, is affiliated with the Congress party.
This diverse group has united under the banner of 'Ami Panjekar - Concerned Citizens of Panaji,' presenting themselves as a non-political panel focused on civic issues rather than party politics.
Tactical Adjustment to Prevent Monserrate Sweep
According to Utpal Parrikar, this collaboration represents a "tactical adjustment" specifically designed to prevent Monserrate from securing all 30 wards in the CCP elections. A primary objective is to thwart the revenue minister's plan to reinstall his son, Rohit Monserrate, as mayor of Panaji.
"We will contest all wards, but there may be one or two seats where another candidate is stronger," Parrikar explained. "To defeat Rohit, I'm ready to withdraw my candidate and support theirs. We will disclose names at the right time."
Allegations of Intimidation and Election Schedule
Parrikar has leveled serious accusations against Monserrate, claiming the minister is using government machinery, muscle power, and financial resources to intimidate opposition candidates in the run-up to the elections.
The state election commission has scheduled the CCP elections for March 11, with vote counting to take place on March 13. According to the notified schedule, nomination papers can be filed until February 24, giving candidates approximately three weeks to formalize their candidacies.
Year-Long Planning and Voter Demographics
Surendra Furtado revealed that the alliance has been planning this challenge for an entire year. "This is a non-political panel, and I assure you all political parties in Goa will back us," Furtado stated confidently. "It will be a one-to-one fight in most wards—something that's never happened before in Panaji's political history."
The state capital has 32,496 registered voters who will cast their ballots at 48 polling booths distributed across the city's 30 wards, making this a significant electoral contest with implications for Goa's political landscape.
Focus on Civic Failures and Ethical Questions
The newly formed panel plans to campaign heavily on what they describe as CCP's failures in managing critical urban issues, including parking problems, garbage handling inefficiencies, and various illegal activities within the city.
Utpal Parrikar emphasized the ethical dimension of their challenge, stating: "Leaving aside political affiliations, we've come together to do something good for Panaji. My fight is specifically against Babush Monserrate. I don't know how it fits BJP ethics when the father is a minister, wife an MLA, and son the mayor—this concentration of power within one family raises serious questions about democratic representation."
This unusual alliance between political figures from traditionally opposing parties represents a significant development in Goan politics, potentially reshaping the dynamics of local governance in the state capital as voters prepare to head to the polls next month.
