Ex-Congress CM's son files nomination for Goa by-poll

Roy Naik, the son of former Goa Congress Chief Minister Ravi Naik, on Friday filed his nomination for the by-election for the Valpoi assembly constituency.

Roy Naik, who has been indicted in a legislative committee report for his alleged links to the drug trade, filed his nomination in the presence of top party leaders including the party's Goa in-charge A. Chellakumar and state Congress chief Shantaram Naik.

"I am confident of winning the election," Roy Naik said.

In 2013, Roy Naik was indicted when his father was the Home Minister in the Digambar Kamat-led coalition government.

Naik will face Vishwajit Rane, the Health Minister in the BJP-led coalition cabinet.

Rane was elected on a Congress ticket in the February assembly polls, but later resigned and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party government as Minister.

The Goa Suraksha Manch, a regional political party backed by former state Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Subhash Velingkar, has also fielded its past President Anand Shirodkar as a candidate for the Panaji assembly by-poll.

Shirodkar, who filed his nomination papers here earlier on Friday will contest Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for the Panaji seat in the August 23 polls.

--IANS

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