Goa’s Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik died of a heart attack late on Tuesday night. Family sources gave this information.
Sources said 79-year-old Naik suffered a heart attack in his hometown Ponda. Naik’s hometown is 30 kilometers from Panaji. He was admitted to a private hospital in Ponda city, where he was declared dead at around 1 am.He is survived by his wife, two children, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. His last rites will be performed on Wednesday at 3 pm.
Naik’s mortal remains were brought to his residence at Khadpabandh in Ponda, where thousands of people gathered to pay homage to him.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to him by posting on Instagram. The PM wrote, “Saddened by the demise of Shri Ravi Naik ji, Minister in the Government of Goa. He will be remembered as an experienced administrator and dedicated public servant who enriched the development path of Goa. He was especially keen to empower the underprivileged and the marginalized. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Paying tribute to Naik, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that his leadership, humility and contribution to public welfare will always be remembered.Sawant wrote on the social media platform ‘X’, “Deeply saddened by the demise of our senior leader and cabinet minister Ravi Naik ji. A stalwart of Goa politics, his decades of dedicated service as Chief Minister and Minister of key departments has left an indelible mark on the governance and people of the state.
He wrote, “His leadership, humility and contribution to public welfare will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and supporters in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Naik has been an MLA seven times (six times from Ponda assembly constituency and once from Markaim assembly constituency) from parties including Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He was first elected to the State Assembly from Ponda Assembly Constituency in 1984 on MGP ticket and in 1989 he contested from Markaim Assembly Constituency.
Naik was elected consecutively from Ponda assembly constituency in 1999, 2002, 2007 and 2017 on Congress ticket and in 2022 on BJP ticket.
Naik was the Chief Minister of the state twice. For the first time he led the Progressive Democratic Front coalition government from January 1991 to May 1993.
He became the shortest serving Chief Minister of Goa in 1994. His tenure lasted only six days from April 2 to April 8 that year. Naik was also a Member of Parliament from North Goa in 1998.