Veteran leader’s imprint endures from mundkar reforms to OBC uplift
PANAJI
The political importance of Ravi Naik even in these last few years of the current term can be gauged from the fact that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the BJP leadership left him untouched although his name did crop up for culling at both the cabinet reshuffles executed thus far.
The void he leaves behind with his passing on Wednesday, therefore, will be a tough ask to fill both for the BJP as well as the Bhandari Samaj, the largest OBC block on Goa’s socio-political turf.
It arguably marks a significant turning point in the State’s electoral politics landscape as he was the last remaining stalwarts of Goa’s post-Liberation political generation, having a political career that spanned over four decades across multiple parties and portfolios.
Naik’s influence extended beyond his electoral victories. As a Bhandari leader, he held sway over a key OBC vote bank, particularly in Ponda taluka and several other constituencies.
Consequently, the vacuum he leaves in community representation is bound to trigger a realignment of caste-based political strategies in the State.
Naik’s administrative acumen and grassroots connect, was instrumental in championing the rights of mundkars and tenants, and he was the first to propose the creation of a third district in Goa — an idea that may now lose momentum without his advocacy.
His tenure as Agriculture Minister in recent years saw renewed focus on irrigation and farmer welfare, initiatives that now risk losing continuity.
Politically, Naik’s absence could weaken the BJP’s hold in central Goa, where his personal charisma often transcended party lines.
Both his sons – Roy and Ritesh – are politically active. But it remains to be seen which of them or both make moves to succeed their father and inherit his political influence and legacy.
Rival political parties could make moves to capitalise on the leadership gap.
The government’s declaration of three days State mourning underscores Naik’s stature. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, calling him “an experienced administrator and dedicated public servant,” which reflects the national recognition he commanded.
As Goa hurtles towards future elections – the ZP polls in December and the mother of political battles in 2027 – the loss of Ravi Naik is more than symbolic. It will reshape the contours of regional politics, leadership dynamics, and community representation where for a deeply emotional electorate, legacies of political personalities still matter.
