The always street smart Ponda MLA Ravi Naik has had a remarkable meteoric rise in politics that he even went on to be the Chief Minister of Goa. But the prospects towards the end of his innings on the political turf seem to be gloomy.
Today Ravi Naik is party less. He may still be officially in the Congress but the party considers him an outcast and a BJP man after his two sons officially joined the saffron brigade on having been promised the moon. The now stunning defeat of son Ritesh in the election to the Chairperson of Ponda Municipal Council is a big political blow and major setback to the Ponda MLA who was so very confident about the victory not knowing the politriks the BJP is a master in manoeuvring. At 70 plus Ravi Naik has not wisely assessed the current political scene and could have opted for a Honourable retirement from politics instead of planning to defect at this ripened age. One could write volumes on Ravi Naik's shrewd and astute rise from Rags to Riches. Have vivid memories of the early 70's when I used to go to Ponda along with our Ribandar football team for matches. We used to stop at the tiny Ravi Bar for sodas and soft drinks and were served by the half clad Ravi Naik in his rustic shorts. Could we then ever forsee that the man serving us would one day rise to be the Chief Minister of Goa. Politics has been a big gamble and today it has been reduced to a scoundrel's last resort as was rightly predicted by my Professor of Political Science in College. His forecast was dead on. When politics is no longer a mission but a profession, politicians become more self serving. Was the late President Harry Truman prophetic when he said 'An honest public servant can't become rich in politics. He can only attain greatness and satisfaction by service'.
