PANAJI
The Congress faces yet another setback and could see a further drop in the number of its legislators, as former chief minister and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik is set to resign as MLA and join the BJP on Sunday.
According to sources, Naik is likely to get a ministry in on his entry into the party.
With the entry of two Bhandari Community leaders in Ravi Naik and Jayesh Salgaonkar, BJP appears to have responded to AAP’s pledge to appoint a chief minister from the Bhandari community if voted to power in the State.
While BJP leaders in Ponda claimed they had not been informed about Ravi Naik’s entry into the party, but said they would accept any decision taken by party leaders.
"We are with the leader who is declared by the party as the candidate for Ponda constituency", said Vishwanath Dalvi, President Ponda BJP Mandal.
BJP’s strategy to get in Salgaonkar and Naik into the party has further weakened Goa Forward Party, which is left with two MLAs, while Naik’s departure from the Congress will leave the party with only three MLAs Digamber Kamat, Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco and Pratapsing Rane.
Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro had recently resigned from the Congress to join the TMC.
By roping in Ravi Naik, the BJP hopes to get a political stronghold in the Ponda constituency and is also keen to weaken the political ambitions of MGP leaders Sudin Dhavlikar, who wants to expand his party in constituencies like Shiroda, Ponda and Priol.
Incidentally, Ravi Naik’s sons, Ritesh and Roy, are already in the BJP.
There have been speculations that Goa Forward’s Siolim MLA Vinod Palyekar would also join BJP, but he has categorically denied the reports, stating that he is with the Goa Forward Party.
