Panaji (Goa) Shiv Sena today said that Manohar Parrikar should have resigned from his post as state chief minister before contesting the Panaji by-election to provide level playing field.
Panaji is going for by-election on August 23 in which Parrikar is contesting against Congress’ Girish Chodankar and Goa Suraksha Manch’s Anand Shirodkar. Shiv Sena has supported GSM in the upcoming by election.
“When any chief minister contests the election, first he should have resigned from the post. When you fight as a chief minister you don’t provide level playing field to the other contestants,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters here today.
He said that entire state machinery is at the service of the chief minister which can be largely misused during the election process.
Raut said that the Panaji by-election has been closely monitored in the politics. “Chief Minister has made several statements and announcements on the floor of the House keeping in mind the by-polls in Panaji and Valpoi,” Raut said adding that such an act of misusing power to influence voters is a kind of corruption.
He said Parrikar should have stepped down as chief minister and waited for six months to get elected before being sworn in for the post. “If this had to happen, we would have welcomed his decision (to remain out of the chair and contest polls),” Raut said.
The Shiv Sena leader said that despite being Chief Minister, Parrikar does not have any popularity and is forced to visit door to door during the by-election.
“If you had really worked for the people in last six months, people would have voted for BJP sparing you from visiting their houses to ask for votes,” he said.
Raut announced that Shiv Sena has extended its support to GSM candidate Anand Shirodkar.
Talking to reporters, Shirodkar claimed that the real fight in Panaji constituency is between Congress and GSM while Parrikar is not in competition.
“There is a strong undercurrent against Parrikar which he has sensed. He is already out of the competition. The real fight is between Congress and GSM,” he said.
Team TNV