Cong mocks Parrikar's municipal poll campaigning

The Congress today alleged that the Defence Minister and former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was "belittling" himself by campaigning in local municipal elections and neglecting his duties in Delhi.
Goa Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said Parrikar's presence in the state was a sign of nervousness in the ruling BJP camp.
"BJP had to get the Defence Minister to campaign for municipal elections. It is shocking that India's Defence Minister actually has the time to campaign for such polls. The question is does he spare enough time for his sensitive portfolio?" said Kawthankar.
The BJP, however, defended Parrikar saying he was in the state only to meet the party workers and inspire confidence among them ahead of the polls.

"The Defence Minister was not campaigning. He was only interacting with the workers," Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said.
Another senior Goa BJP leader and Union Minister of State Shripad Naik also canvassed for the BJP-backed panels of candidates. The results of elections to 11 municipalities would be declared tomorrow.
Congress has not officially backed any panel but the individual leaders have fielded panels of candidates.