Summary:
Parsekar had demanded BJP ticket to contest bypolls failing which he announced to contest byelections as an Independent candidate. It led to speculation that Parsekar may join MGP to contest the bypolls.Mandrem assembly seat had become vacant after Sopte switched sides. BJP wants to put things in order before the party’s parliamentary board announces the names of the candidates for the byelections.Recently, Parsekar held a meeting with MGP president Pandurang Dhavalikar in Panaji . I have never changed party.” He said that for the past 30 years he had been working for the party and his outburst was the reaction to the injustice meted out to him.“I was angry… I gathered BJP karyakartas and held a meeting… got a good response from them. I will convince the loyal karyakartas that going out of party is not correct,” he said.Parsekar said the country is behind Modi and “I also feel that we should strengthen his hands”.For a comfortable victory in the Mandrem bypoll, BJP had been trying to convince Parsekar not to contest the byelections.Sources said they convinced Parsekar that if he remained with BJP, his interest would be protected after the Lok Sabha polls..