Team Goemkarponn
PONDA: Following the demise of veteran Bahujan leader and former minister Ravi Naik, political activity has gathered momentum in Ponda ahead of the upcoming by-election. While the BJP leadership is yet to announce its candidate, councillor Ritesh Naik has emerged as a strong contender backed by public sympathy and community support.
Ritesh, who along with his father and brother Roy Naik joined the BJP in 2022 after quitting the Congress, is seen as the natural successor to his father’s legacy. The Gomantak Bhandari Samaj (GBS) — a community with a strong presence in Ponda — has openly endorsed Ritesh and even called for him to be elected unopposed. However, political observers remain doubtful that rival parties will honour the appeal, predicting a competitive battle instead.
Within the BJP, the ticket is expected to be a close contest between Ritesh Naik and senior party worker Vishwanath Dalvi, who has voiced hope that his long-standing service will be recognized. Meanwhile, MGP leader and Power Minister Sudin Dhavlikar has indicated his support for Ritesh as a possible alliance candidate, though the BJP is yet to make an official decision.
In the opposition camp, MGP’s Dr Ketan Bhatikar, who narrowly lost to Ravi Naik in 2022, has announced that he will contest as an Independent, claiming he “never stopped working for Ponda.” On the Congress side, South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes confirmed that Rajesh Verenkar has expressed interest in contesting, with the final call pending party approval.
The 2022 Assembly election in Ponda witnessed a tightly fought three-way contest. Ravi Naik (BJP) had won by a wafer-thin margin of 77 votes, polling 7,514 votes (29.12%), while Dr Ketan Bhatikar (MGP) garnered 7,437 (28.82%), and Rajesh Verenkar (Congress) followed with 6,838 (26.51%).
As the BJP weighs its options and other contenders enter the fray, the Ponda by-election promises to be a high-stakes political test — shaped by emotion, legacy, and strategic alliances.
