Panaji , Dec 7 : Hours after resigning as an MLA, former Goa Chief Minister Ravi Naik joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Today.

He joined the ruling party in the presence of Chief Minister Prmod Sawant, BJP Goa Election Incharge Devendra Fadnavis, BJP Goa State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, among others.

Mr Naik, who represented the Ponda constituency in the state assembly, submitted his resignation letter to Speaker Rajesh Patnekar earlier today.

However, Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar said that Mr Naik’s exit from the party would not have any impact on the party’s electoral prospects.

“When his two sons joined BJP around one and half years back, that time itself we had disowned him and started nurturing new leaders. His name was not recommended by block or district committees of the party,” Mr Chodankar told UNI.

Mr Naik represented the Ponda constituency in the state assembly. Goa is scheduled for the assembly elections early next year.(UNI)