PANAJI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Ritesh Naik as its candidate for the upcoming Ponda by-election, aiming to carry forward the political legacy of his father, former Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik.
On the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also announced candidature to newly joined social worker Geetesh Naik
Ritesh Naik, a former Chairperson of the Ponda Municipal Council, joined the BJP in 2020 along with his brother Roy Naik. Since then, he has remained active in local politics, recently spearheading party campaigns during the Zilla Panchayat elections and managing his late father’s political office.
The seat fell vacant following Ravi Naik’s passing on October 15, 2025.
Meanwhile, AAP has named social worker and Bhandari Samaj leader Geetesh Naik as its candidate. He joined AAP in the presence of National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders earlier this week.
The Congress party has confirmed Dr. Ketan Bhatikar as its nominee, setting up a multi-cornered contest in the constituency.
The Ponda by-poll is scheduled to take place on April 9, 2026, with all three major parties gearing up for a closely watched electoral battle.
