After ticket snub, BJP appoints Dilip Parulekar as vice-president

BJP appoints former Saligao MLA and ex tourism minister Dilip Parulekar as BJP vice-president. He was earlier not happy after he didn't get the party ticket for Saligao constituency.

The BJP ticket for Sailgao had gone to ex-MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar, who left the Goa Forward Party to join BJP in December.

Former Maharastra Cheif Minister and BJP Goa in-charge Devendra Fadnavis had met with Parulekar on Saturday, after which the latter showed his support his support for BJP's decision to field Salgaonkar.

With this appointment, BJP can be assured that Parulekar won't be contesting from Saligao as an independent candidate.

On January 20, BJP released the names of the 34 candidates that will be contesting for the general elections to the Legislative Assembly of Goa.

In the 2017 Assembly polls, Congress had won 17 seats in the tiny coastal state to emerge as the single largest party. However, the BJP, which was in second place in terms of seats, quickly stitched an alliance with MGP, Goa Forward and Independent MLAs to form its government in Goa. However, later on, two MLAs from the MGP joined BJP.

The election for the 40 seats will take place on February 14, and the ballots will be counted on March 10.