RAVIONICS…
“I have resigned as MLA today, have submitted my resignation to Speaker; I have never said that I am joining the BJP; There is a lot of time, and I will tell you all my decision at the right time.”
Ravi Naik, former Chief Minister
ANOTHER MLA
BITES THE DUST
Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: In a massive jolt to the Congress party, Ponda MLA and Former Chief Minister Ravi Naik resigned as a member of the Legislative Assembly today.
This morning, Naik submitted his resignation to the Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar. Naik will be joining the BJP today at 5.30 pm in a grand function at Ponda.
With this resignation, the Congress Party’s strength in the state has been reduced to 3, and the assembly size has come down to 37.
“I have resigned as MLA today, have submitted my resignation to Speaker; I have never said that I am joining the BJP; There is a lot of time, and I will tell you all my decision at the right time,” said Ravi speaking to reporters at the assembly complex.
Both sons Roy and Ritesh, who are already in BJP, accompanied their father while he submitted his resignation.
Ravi Naik is likely to join BJP this evening in a grand function in Ponda in BJP Goa in-charge Devendra Fadavnis.
“Ravi Naik will join BJP at 5.30 pm today,” informed BJP State President, Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
Reacting to the news, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, Ravi Naik’s exit will not dent the party as Naik was only technically present in the party.”
“He was only technically in Congress; his one leg was already in BJP. He had sent his sons in the BJP first,” Chodankar said.
Chodankar said the party disowned the former chief minister after both his sons joined BJP.
“In the assembly, Ravi Naik was a Congress MLA, but we have stopped counting him as our legislator,” he added.
In the 2017 state Assembly polls, Congress had emerged as the single largest party by winning 17 seats. However, the BJP, which had won 13 seats, forged an alliance with some regional outfits and independents to form government in the coastal state.
Since then, a number of Congress MLAs quit the party and joined the BJP. After the 2017 polls, Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane was the first to resign from Congress. He later joined the BJP and won the bypoll from the seat.