Ex Goa CM and Ponda stalwart Ravi Naik retires from active politics, hands over baton to sons

PONDA, GOA: If sources from the Ravi Naik camp in Ponda are to be believed, the Bhandari Samaj stalwart has decided to retire from active politics and has handed over the baton to his sons, Roy and Ritesh Naik, who both joined the BJP last year.

While political pundits in Goa are wondering if Ravi Naik will contest from Marcaim or Ponda this time, a family friend said that Ravi Naik feels he has had enough of active politics and wants to rest.

“Ravi Naik must take rest. Politics is a dirty game. He has had his share of politics. He was the CM and Home Minister of Goa. He was the toughest HM and dismantled all the gangs in Goa. Ravi Naik must now relax at home, while his sons Ritesh and Roy can carry on their father’s political legacy,” the family friend stated.

“His is worried about his health. It’s time for him to rest and enjoy his life. He has completed 75 years now. Even his immediate family wants him to retire from active politics. He will however continue to guide and support his sons, if he so desires, but it is unlikely that Ravi Naik will contest elections this time,” the family friend said.

Naik had recovered from Covid last year. In April this year, Naik suffered a minor brain stroke and was admitted to the Manipal Hospital, where he recovered, but his family and sons are worried about his health and do not want him to exert himself by getting involved in active campaigning and meeting people, which is a must for any political candidate, even though he may be a veteran and may have won many elections.

On the face of things, Ravi Naik has detached himself from the Congress party and did not put any party symbols on the Ganesh Chaturthi gifts he distributed in his constituency.

His birthday celebrations too did not have any party symbols and while the BJP top brass, including Goa CM Pramod Sawant made a beeline for Ravi’s house, Congress leaders were missing at the birthday celebrations.

However, sources said many Congress leaders from Ponda and neighbouring areas visited Ravi Naik privately and wished him on his birthday.

While the BJP camp said this was an indication that Naik had quit the Congress, others claimed that this was because Ravi Naik did not want to endorse any political party, neither the Congress nor the BJP.

Along with other senior Congress leaders like South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and others, Ravi Naik had openly declared his dislike for GPCC President Girish Chodankar and was not in favor of him continuing as State Party President.

Sources said Naik is keeping away from the Congress as he is not happy with the High Command in Delhi, for its continued support to Chodankar. He feels Chodankar is directly responsible for the downfall of the Congress in Goa.

Last year, Naik privately told some friends that he was in the race for the State Congress Party President’s post, but didn’t go public with this.

He is disillusioned with the Congress leadership, both in Goa and Delhi and hence is keeping a low political profile, a family source said.