PONDA: Against the backdrop of the Congress Ponda MLA Ravi Naik’s son, Ritesh Naik, who is a Ponda Municipal Councillor, BJP appears confident of capturing the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) as well as strengthening its base in Ponda constituency.
BJP sources also hinted that Ritesh and his brother Roy, will officially join BJP soon.
There is also speculation that the other two Congress backed PMC councillors will also join BJP. However, none of the three councillors including Ritesh were available when attempts were made to contact them.
BJP sources added that the councillors could join as soon as Thursday itself.
This decision will also have a significant bearing on the political equation at PMC.
It may be recalled that two years ago, after PMC’s 15 wards went for elections, no political party gained the majority. MGP backed councillors won 7 seats, BJP 5 and Congress 3.
At that time, the MGP backed councillor Pradeep Naik was elected as the PMC Chairperson and the BJP backed Vishwanth Dalvi as the PMC Deputy Chairperson. However later, when the ties between MGP and BJP were cut off in view of the removal of MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar as a cabinet Minister; Pradeep was voted out as Chairperson in a no confidence motion that was moved against him.
This led to Venkatesh Naik, the BJP backed councillor becoming the Chairperson with the backing of the majority of all party councillors.
Now, it is rumoured that the PMC Chairperson post is likely to be offered to Ritesh when he joins BJP.
It is also rumoured that Ritesh and Roy will be considered as BJP candidates for the assembly elections but there was no confirmation on this from the BJP.
