Team Herald
PANJIM/PONDA: Former chief minister and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik on Tuesday resigned as a legislator and also from the primary membership of Congress.
Later in the evening, Naik rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, party’s election observer and Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade and others.
This is the second time Naik has quit the Congress and joined the BJP, the previous being in 2000 when he was a Leader of Opposition, along with others switched over to the saffron party. He then resigned from the BJP on the last day of filing of nomination papers for 2002 Assembly elections and rejoined the Congress and won the elections.
Earlier, in the morning, Naik along with his sons – Ponda Municipal Council Councillor Ritesh and Roy – submitted his resignation to the Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar.
With Naik’s resignation, the strength of Congress was reduced to three MLAs in the truncated 37-Member House.
Later, Naik informed the media persons that he has resigned as MLA and from the Congress and declined to give reasons. Asked whether he will contest the ensuing Assembly elections on a BJP ticket, Naik said, “I will decide about it when the election date is announced.”
However, Naik’s younger son Roy said that his father is interested in contesting the upcoming elections and that he has requested him to contest the elections.
Naik’s joining has buoyed the BJP that is now targetting 27 seats on strength of Naik being a bahujan leader with mass appeal.
Speaking at Naik’s induction in the party at Ponda, Fadnavis said he hopes Congress leader Pratapsingh Rane will join BJP and Congress will be reduced to two MLAs.
Fadnavis mocked the Congress and said that after Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar left Congress it turned into small party like a Nano car wherein only four can travel and now after Naik quitting, it has turned into an autorickshaw where only three can sit and travel. Soon, with blessing of Senior Rane the Congress would be reduced to two MLAs and then it will be called a cycle party.
Earlier, he launched a scatting attack on MGP for aligning with the TMC.
He said the MGP Lion has been trapped into the purse of West Bengal party but it should expect the curse of people. “MGP Lions will get nothing from unholy alliance,” he said.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that with Naik’s joining “BJP ataa bhivpachi garaz na”.
He said, “The Opposition is uniting and forming alliances only to keep BJP away.”
