Laxmikant Parsekar, the former Goa Chief Minister, has quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and announced that he will be contesting the upcoming assembly elections as an independent candidate. 

Parsekar was an MLA for three terms, and the BJP party president in the state. He represented the North Goa Mandrem constituency from 2002 until he was defeated in 2017. He complained that the party had taken him for granted and decided to favour a non-performing MLA over him. 

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The party president Sadanand Tanawde received Parsekar’s resignation letter, which stated, ”

This is to inform you that I hereby tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa Pradesh with immediate effect. You are requested to kindly accept my resignation forthwith and relieve me immediately from all responsibilities relating to the activities of the party.” He also quit as the convenor BJP Manifesto Committee for the Goa elections. 

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Earlier, Parsekar stated that he was all about ensuring development and did it with the taxpayer’s money. Noting the lack of development in his constituency, he said that it weighed heavily on his mind. Thus, he’d decided there was no need to join any party or be the chief minister. Parsekar could just as well achieve his goals as an MLA. 

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He also clarified that his resignation is not because BJP gave the ticket to Dayanand Sopte, but due to various other reasons which had accumulated over the last three to four years. 

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Parsekar earlier indicated his intention, saying, “The development work I have done in the last five years has been deliberately put on hold. Its grief is in my mind. That development work must be completed”. The BJP took all measures to keep Parsekar in the fold, including Devendra Fadnavis, BJP election in charge in Goa, trying to appease Parsekar by paying him a home visit. However, the former chief minister remained resolute. 

The 40-seat Goa elections will take place in a single phase on February 14, 2022. Votes will be counted and results declared on March 10, 2022.