Goa minister and former CM Ravi Naik passes away

Panaji: Goa's agriculture minister and former chief minister Ravi Naik passed away on Wednesday after a cardiac arrest, family sources said. Naik, 79, suffered cardiac arrest at his hometown, 30 km away from Panaji, the sources said.

He was shifted to a private hospital in Ponda town where he was declared dead around 1 am. He is survived by his wife, two children, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. The last rites would be conducted at 3 pm on Wednesday.

His mortal remains were brought to his residence at Khadpabandh in Ponda where thousands of people gathered to pay tributes to the leader. Paying tributes to Naik, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said his leadership, humility and contribution to the public welfare will always be remembered.

“Deeply saddened by the demise of our senior leader and Cabinet Minister Shri Ravi Naik Ji. A stalwart of Goan politics, his decades of dedicated service as Chief Minister, and Minister across key portfolios have left an indelible mark on the state’s Governance and people.”

“His leadership, humility and contribution to public welfare will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and supporters in this moment of grief. Om Shanti," Sawant wrote on X.

Naik was seven times MLA (six times from Ponda assembly constituency and once from Marcaim assembly constituency) as a candidate of parties including Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Congress and the BJP over the years. He was elected to the state legislative assembly for the first time from Ponda constituency in 1984 on MGP ticket and successfully contested the 1989 election from that party in Marcaim assembly constituency.

Naik got elected from Ponda assembly constituency consistently in 1999, 2002, 2007 and 2017 on Congress ticket and in 2022 on the BJP ticket. Naik was twice the chief minister of the coastal state, the first time from January 1991 to May 1993, leading a coalition government of the Progressive Democratic Front.

In 1994, he became the shortest serving chief minister of Goa. His tenure lasted just six days, from April 2 to 8 that year. Naik was also a Member of Parliament from North Goa in 1998 as a Congress candidate.

Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X said, "Saddened by the passing away of Shri Ravi Naik Ji, Minister in the Goa Government. He will be remembered as an experienced administrator and dedicated public servant who enriched Goa's development trajectory."

"He was particularly passionate about empowering the downtrodden and marginalised. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," the he said.