Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The sudden demise of Agriculture Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Naik has left a void in the State Cabinet and reignited political manoeuvring within the ruling party over who might fill the vacant berth.
Adding to the political intrigue, members of the influential Gomantak Bhandari Samaj have urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the BJP leadership to nominate Ritesh Naik, the late leader’s elder son, as his successor.
Speaking at Ravi Naik’s final rites, community leader Devanand Naik appealed to the Chief Minister to give Ritesh a party ticket in the upcoming elections. “Within six months, Goa will go to polls. We request that Ritesh be given a ticket and, after his victory, a place in the Cabinet so he can continue his father’s legacy,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, another Samaj leader, Sanjiv Naik, said the community stood firmly behind the Naik family. “The party should allow one of Patrao’s sons to carry forward his work. His supporters will stand with them till the end,” he said.
The call from the Bhandari community — which holds significant political influence in Goa — has put the BJP in a delicate position as it weighs both emotional appeal and electoral arithmetic.
The development comes barely two months after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s last Cabinet reshuffle, in which former Chief Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar were inducted as ministers.
With a fresh vacancy now open, attention has turned once again to those who missed out in August — notably Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, both seen as strong contenders for Cabinet positions.
A senior BJP functionary said that while several names are being discussed informally, no decision has been finalised. “There was talk earlier that one more MLA might be accommodated. Ravi Naik’s sudden passing has changed the internal dynamics, but the final decision will rest with the Chief Minister,” the leader said.
Lobo’s name continues to feature prominently, given his three electoral victories, prior ministerial experience, and political influence across Bardez. His role in facilitating the 2022 Congress defections also keeps him relevant in BJP’s internal calculations.
However, political analysts say Chief Minister Pramod Sawant may prefer to keep the vacancy unfilled for now. “While Lobo has strong credentials, Dr Sawant might retain the portfolio until after the bypolls,” said political analyst Trajano D’Mello. “He may use the vacancy strategically to maintain caste and regional balance, particularly among the Bhandari community.”
Party insiders suggest that the leadership will weigh sentiment, community representation, and political strategy before making any move. With the BJP already preparing for upcoming bypolls and next year’s Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Minister is expected to make a calculated decision rather than an immediate one.
For now, Ravi Naik’s passing has once again unsettled the political landscape — reopening ambitions within the BJP, testing the party’s internal equations, and reminding Goa’s political class that every reshuffle brings both opportunity and uncertainty.
