Battle for grassroots dominance set to test parties
PANAJI
As a by-election approaches and political activity heats up in Ponda following the death of veteran leader Ravi Naik, the Khandepar Zilla Panchayat (ZP) constituency has come into sharp focus. The Curti-Khandepar panchayat forms a key part of the Ponda assembly
constituency.
Khandepar’s reputation for swinging between parties and its politically aware voters have added to the curiosity around this ZP contest. Many see it as a reflection of the broader mood ahead of the upcoming Ponda bye-election.
In the 2020-21 ZP polls, Khandepar surprised many by electing Independent candidate Santosh Naik, who narrowly defeated the BJP-backed nominee. At the time, Ravi Naik was the sitting Ponda MLA from the Congress, before switching to the BJP ahead of the 2022 assembly elections.
The 2020-21 result highlighted Khandepar’s preference for local leadership over party loyalty — a pattern seen since the 2015 elections, when the BJP still held a strong base in the area.
Khandepar’s 6,000–7,000 voters are known for their high turnout and issue-based voting. The electorate, largely Hindu and from the Maratha and Bhandari communities, focuses on local issues such as water supply, road infrastructure, and employment opportunities. These often take precedence over broader political or ideological debates.
“The ZP election result could be a fair indicator of which way the wind will blow in the Ponda by-election,” said a senior journalist from Ponda.
Political parties are now fine-tuning their strategies for Khandepar, seeing it as a testing ground ahead of the Ponda by-poll.
The BJP, which won the Ponda seat for the first time in 2022 with Ravi Naik as its candidate, is likely to field one of his sons — Ritesh or Roy Naik. Both are active in local politics and are seen as inheritors of their father’s legacy. However, the party faces criticism over perceived dynastic politics, with some drawing parallels to its earlier decision to deny a ticket to Manohar Parrikar’s son, Utpal, in the 2019 Panaji by-poll.
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), meanwhile, faces its own dilemma. It must decide whether to nominate Dr Ketan Bhatikar, a grassroots leader known for his issue-based approach, who lost to Ravi Naik by just 77 votes in 2022.
Bhatikar has openly disagreed with the Dhavalikar brothers’ reported support for one of Naik’s sons to be elected unopposed. He has also indicated his interest in contesting the bye-election, a move that could appeal to voters looking for an alternative to the BJP.
Speaking to The Goan, Bhatikar said he had not yet decided his course of action for the Khandepar ZP poll scheduled for December 13, but agreed that Khandepar’s outcome would play a key role in shaping the assembly bye-election.
A strong performance in the ZP poll could give any candidate or party crucial momentum going into the Ponda bye-election, while a poor showing could signal shifts in voter sentiment.
A clearer picture will emerge once the State Election Commissioner, Menino D’Souza, officially announces the poll schedule. As parties and candidates begin campaigning, all eyes will be on this small but politically significant Khandepar ZP seat.
