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Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji
Minister of State for Shipbuilding Shripad Naik on Monday tendered his resignation from the Union Cabinet and filed his nomination from the Ponda assembly constituency in Goa.
The North Goa MP has been roped in to take on Congress heavyweight Ravi Naik, who quit as the deputy chief minister on Friday and defected to the opposition Congress.
Reports said Shripad may even be projected as the chief ministerial candidate.
Since Ravi Naik belongs the Bhandari community, Shripad Naik's nomination from Ponda is a shrewd move to neutralise his influence. Shripad Naik is also a Bhandari.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar denied comment on reports that Shripad Naik may be projected as a chief ministerial candidate in the run-up to the elections.
Shripad made his debut in politics in 1994 when he defeated Ravi in assembly elections. Later, Ravi defeated Shripad in Lok Sabha elections.
PTI
ALSO SEE: Goa deputy chief minister quits BJP
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