6-time North Goa MP Shripad Naik once again inducted into Union Cabinet as MoS

PANAJI: BJP’s six-time North Goa MP Shripad Naik was sworn in on Sunday as a minister for state in PM Narendra Modi’s govt. Naik has been a minister in the BJP-led NDA govt since 1999, the year he was first elected as an MP. Naik said that while serving the people of the country, he will give priority to Goa.
He is one of the few MPs who has served as a minister both in Modi govt and the previous NDA govt, which was led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee as PM.
After being inducted in Modi govt as minister, Naik said the PM has given suggestions on how to function as minister. He said that Goa is always on the mind of PM Modi.
“I have got this opportunity because of the blessings of North Goa voters and people of Goa. While I will serve the people of the country, I will also give priority to Goa. Whatever ministry I get, I will work for the country and the state. This is an opportunity to continue to serve the people of the country,” the minister said.
Naik won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the highest margin of his career, 1.2 lakh votes. Previously, he had the highest winning margin of 1 lakh votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Naik, known as “bhau” and Bhandari Samaj leader, has become part of political history in Goa by winning six consecutive terms as Lok Sabha MP.
He was one of the four BJP candidates who opened the party's account in Goa in the assembly elections in 1994.
Naik broke the record jointly held by him and Eduardo Faleiro of five consecutive terms. Faleiro had won the South Goa seat for five terms for Congress. Naik is also one among the five MPs in the current Lok Sabha who have been winning elections for six consecutive terms.
Naik who comes from RSS background started his political career in the 1980s. He won his first panchayat election in 1984 and was the sarpanch of Adpai from 1985 to 1994. Naik contested his first assembly election in 1981 from Cumbharjua constituency and lost. Later, he contested the 1991 Lok Sabha election from South Goa and faced defeat.
After losing assembly election in 1999 in Marcaim constituency, Naik contested 1999 Lok Sabha polls from North Goa and won the seat for BJP for the first time and has continued to serve as an MP till date. Naik saw the closest fight for Lok Sabha elections in 2009 when he was about to make a hat-trick.
All the opposition parties united to defeat Naik, but due to strong organisational support he secured a third term.
In his four and half decade political career, Naik served three terms as BJP state president. He was BJP president for two consecutive terms between 1990 to 1995 and his third term was between 2007 to 2009.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant along with cabinet colleagues attended the swearing-in ceremony in Delhi.
“I congratulate Naik for being inducted as Union minister for state in Union govt and it will benefit the state to a large extent. Goa is a small state but we have been given representation in Union govt. We will be able to take up new planned projects due to the double engine govt. Modi’s guarantee will help us in development,” Sawant said.