the goan I network
PONDA
Though election authorities had not identified any area in Ponda Municipal Council as sensitive or hypersensitive, Ward 11 and a polling station at St Mary High School in Upper Bazaar witnessed tense moments following verbal clashes between Ponda’s Congress MLA Ravi Naik and local MGP leaders.
A heavy police force was deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Ravi Naik’s son, Ritesh Naik, who had fought the assembly election against PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar from Marcaim in 2012, is contesting from Ward 11 for the PMC polls.
Though Ritesh was present at the polling station, almost eight hundred meters away from his Ward 11, Ravi Naik was found roaming in Ward 11 at Panditwada. His presence angered the MGP supporters, who summoned the flying squad to the area and also confronted him.
MGP leaders Dr Ketan Bhatikar and Rajesh Verenkar, who have supported the ‘Rising Ponda’ panel were seen arguing with Ravi Naik.
According to Rajesh Verenkar, Ravi Naik was roaming in the area and when they questioned his presence there, he entered into an argument with them.
“He confronted me on my presence in that ward. I told Naik that if he could roam in the area, I too had right to keep a check in the area,” said Verenkar.
Ponda MGP Block President Anil Naik, who is also contesting from Ward 11, alleged that Ravi Naik was trying to influence voters by roaming in the ward, when all election agents were at polling stations.
