Utpal Parrikar, son of former CM Manohar Parrikar who decided to contest the upcoming Goa election as an independent candidate from Panaji constituency, said that his stand on Panaji is a 'principled stand'. "My stand on Panaji is a principled stand.

I said yesterday that if the party fields an honest candidate with integrity and no criminal records from Panaji, then I'm ready to withdraw (as an independent candidate)," Utpal told ANI. Utpal also resigned from the primary membership of BJP on January 21 after the party denied him a ticket from the Panaji constituency and fielded Congress party turncoat Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate.