Former Goa Chief Minister Ravi Naik Passes Away at 79

Ponda : Goa’s Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik passed away on Monday night following a cardiac arrest. He was 79.

According to officials, Mr. Naik was rushed to a private hospital in Ponda, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The senior leader had been active in political and public engagements until recently.

A veteran of Goan politics, Mr. Naik’s public life spanned over four decades. Beginning his career with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) in 1980, he later joined the Indian National Congress, where he rose to prominence as one of the party’s influential figures in the State.

He served as Chief Minister twice, first in 1991 and again in 1994,  and his cumulative tenure lasted nearly 850 days. Mr. Naik also represented Goa in the Lok Sabha between 1998 and 1999.

After decades with the Congress, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021, ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, and was appointed Minister for Agriculture in the Pramod Sawant Cabinet.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant condoled his death, describing Mr. Naik as “a stalwart of Goan politics whose decades of dedicated service have left an indelible mark on the State.”

Mr. Naik is survived by his wife and two sons, Roy Naik and Ritesh Naik, both of whom are active in public life.

A seasoned administrator known for his grassroots connect, Mr. Naik was regarded as one of the last leaders from the early post-Liberation generation who bridged Goa’s regional and national political cultures. His passing marks the end of an era in the State’s political landscape.