TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: He plunged into the Lok Sabha elections fray for the second time after a gap of 16 years. Ex-Congress chief minister and former MP Ravi Naik was last elected to the 12th LS seat in 1998. The four-time MLA from Ponda is set to challenge three-time MP Shripad Naik for the North Goa Parliamentary seat.
Naik initially refused to re-contest claiming that younger generation should be given a chance, a message which was conveyed to Goa desk in-charge Digvijaya Singh during his visit to Goa in February. But his party colleagues recommended his name along with that of two others as they said he would be a strong contender. He got the final approval from the Congress Parliamentary Committee earlier this month.
Naik chose to enter politics in 1980 when he was appointed as the active president of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, only after MGP accepted Statehood for Goa. There was no looking back thereafter! He became Chief Minister twice from January 25, 1991 to May 18, 1993 and April 2, 1994 to April 8, 1994 and held many crucial portfolios in the State.
It was during his last tenure as Home Minister in the Digambar Kamat led government that he grabbed the attention globally after Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse accused him of having links with the biggest drug network operating internationally. In a bid to expose her ex-boyfriend Yaniv Benaim alias Atala’s active involvement in the drug nexus, she also dragged the names of the former minister and his younger son Roy.
Whether or not he is involved in the drug racket is yet to be known as two of the three cases are yet to be charge sheeted. In August 2012, the Manohar Parrikar-led coalition formed a House Committee to investigate into the allegations against Naik family, which indicted the father-son duo. However, no action has been taken even as it had recommended FIR against them as well as others named in it. Two BJP MLAs Vishnu Wagh and Michael Lobo said that there was no evidence to suggest the direct involvement of Naik.
Adding to his woes, the anti corruption branch registered two separate cases of jobs scams in the department of animal husbandry and veterinary services, and the registrar of co-operative societies. The cases are under investigation and it is learnt that he will be called for questioning.
Unfazed about the charges against him although serious, the candidate is busy campaigning in the 20 constituencies seeking support from the electorates. He claims the cases against him are handiwork of the BJP while also claiming that law will take its own course.
Ravi Naik
67, Married, with three children.
Education: M A in Political Science from Madurai University.
Occupation: Businessman with interests in Real Estate.
Assets: Current combined assets worth Rs 5.49 crore up from Rs 4.31 crore he declared in 2012 assembly elections.
Political career: Chief Minister between January 25, 1991 to April 8, 1994. In 1998 elected as MP.
