Panaji: With the demise of agriculture minister Ravi Naik, political activity picked up pace in the state as MLAs covet the vacant cabinet berth, reports Murari Shetye.Ponda had four ministers when BJP formed govt in 2022—WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar, power minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, former art and culture minister Govind Gaude and Naik.
After Naik’s death, the number of cabinet berths in Ponda taluka dropped to 50%.On June 18, CM Pramod Sawant dropped Gaude from his cabinet after he made allegations of corruption in the tribal welfare department, which comes under Sawant.A political observer said Naik was a tall Bhandari leader who had followers across the state, but BJP will now have to take a decision to induct an MLA who can help them secure more seats in the 2027 election.
Former minister Michael Lobo and Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar have been eyeing a cabinet post for a long time.Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral is also hoping for a comeback as he resigned on the instruction of the party to keep BJP’s promise to induct Aleixo Sequeira into the cabinet._______________________Bhandari Samaj seeks Ponda ticket for RiteshPanaji: Bhandari Samaj leaders at minister Ravi Naik’s funeral on Wednesday seized the moment on the dais to ask chief minister Pramod Sawant and BJP state president Damodar Naik for a ticket for Naik’s son Ritesh for the Ponda constituency seat.
“When the bypolls are held six months later, I request the CM and BJP state president to give the opportunity to ‘Patrao’s’ son Ritesh. The family has to be honoured. I ask that he be taken into the cabinet to represent the Bhandari Samaj, a role played by his father,” said Devanand Naik, president of Gomantak Bhandari Samaj.Another member of the Samaj, Sanjeev Naik, said, “He always said with great pride that he is OBC. Whatever he touched turned to gold. He got BJP the Ponda seat. We wish to see at least one of his sons become the (Ponda) MLA and gets the father’s ministerial berth.” TNN