Goa Congress veteran Shantaram Naik passes away

June 09, 2018 09:33

Former Rajya Sabha MP and ex-Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik died after suffering a heart attack today, party officials said.

Naik, 72, was taken to a private hospital in Margao town from his residence after he complained of uneasiness, where he was declared brought dead, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Altinho Gomes told PTI.

Naik was declared dead at 7 am today. He is survived by his wife and a son.

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

Considered a party loyalist, Naik was elected as a member of the Lok Sabha in the 1984 general election. He also pursued the demand for statehood to Goa, which was fulfilled in the year 1987.

He represented Goa in the Rajya Sabha for two terms -- 2005-2011 and 2011-2017 and was defeated by BJP candidate Vinay Tendulkar in the elections in July 2017.

Naik resigned as president of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee recently after party chief Rahul Gandhi appealed for young minds to take over the reins of the party. He was then replaced by Chodankar.

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