Team Herald
PONDA: The victory of both of Ravi Naik’s sons, Ritesh and Roy, is considered the beginning of the senior politician’s ‘second generation innings’ in politics.
Roy Naik contested the Ponda Municipal Council election in 2013, but he was defeated by Councillor Venkatesh Naik.
He also contested the Goa Assembly by-election from the Valpoi Constituency, but he lost to Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane, who later resigned and recontested on a BJP ticket. Meanwhile, Ravi’s elder son, and the incumbent PMC Chairperson, Ritesh Naik, won for the second time as a councillor in the same election.
Both of Ravi’s sons had joined the BJP two years ago, even before their father joining at the time of the Assembly polls.
The Ponda Taluka is set to witness next-generation battles with the Naiks and Dhavalikars. One of Ravi Naik’s sons may pose a challenge to Mithil Dhavalikar, who is expected to carry forward the legacy of Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar after his retirement from politics.