Former Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik dies

Senior Goa Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik died after suffering a heart attack on Saturday, party officials said.

Naik was taken to a private hospital in nearby Margao town from his residence here after he complained of uneasiness. At the hospital, he was declared brought dead, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) General Secretary Altinho Gomes told.

He was declared dead at7 am, he said.

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The veteran Congressman, who also served as chief of the state unit of the party, was 72 and is survived by wife and a son.

A multiple-time Member of Parliament, Naik was one of the tallest leaders of the Congress in Goa. Naik was elected to the Lok Sabha from the South Goa constituency in the 1984 general election.

He actively supported the demand for statehood to Goa which was fulfilled in 1987.

Naik represented Goa in the Rajya Sabha for two consecutive terms -- 2005-2011 and 2011-2017. However, in July 2017, he lost the election to the Upper House of Parliament to BJP candidate Vinay Tendulkar.

In March this year, Naik resigned as president of the GPCC to pave the way for the younger generation to take the reins of the party.

Naik took over as GPCC chief in July 2017, months after the Congress failed to form a government in the coastal state despite emerging as the single largest party.

He was replaced as the state unit chief by Girish Raya Chodankar in April.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, among other leaders, condoled the death of Naik.

Naidu said the ex-Congress MP was active in Parliament and made good contribution to debates in the House.

"I convey my heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Shri Shantaram Naik, former Member of Parliament from Goa and former Goa Congress President.

"He was one of the most active MPs and made good contribution to parliamentary debates. "I pray for his eternal peace," Naidu said in a tweet.

Gandhi, on hearing the news of the demise, called up the family members of Naik and conveyed his condolences to them, Chodankar said.

Gandhi, who spoke to Naik's wife and son, hailed the role played by the Congress veteran in the battle for Goa's statehood.

"I am sorry to hear about the passing away of Shri Shantaram Naik, former Goa Congress Chief, MP and senior Congress leader, who played an important role in the battle for Goa's statehood.

"My condolences to his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," the Congress chief tweeted.

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said Naik was an important leader of the party in Goa.

"Shocked and saddened by the passing away of Shantaram Naik ji, a pillar of indomitable strength for Congress party in Goa.

"In this hour of grief, I express my solidarity with his family, friends and supporters and pray for the departed soul," Surjewala tweeted.

Chodankar said Naik was a mentor to the young Congressmen.

"It is a shocking news for us. We have lost a guide in the form of him. He had mentored so many youths and inspired them to join Congress party. It is a big loss for us," said Chodankar.