PANAJI: Former Fatorda MLA Damodar (Damu) Naik has been officially appointed as the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa Pradesh, during a ceremony attended by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and BJP National General Secretary Sunil Bansal on Saturday. This position became available following the conclusion of the term of the previous president and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade. Damu Naik submitted his nomination in the presence of central election observer Sunil Bansal, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, outgoing State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, and other dignitaries. In remarks to the media, Damu Naik expressed his gratitude, stating, “I thank all the BJP members, both new and old, who have enabled an ordinary party worker to attain such a position.” He emphasized that with the support of senior members and the collaboration of both young and experienced party workers, his primary objective would be to strengthen the party’s organizational structure. Naik asserted that with 15 crore members globally and 4.5 lakh in Goa, the BJP stands as one of the largest political parties. He expressed his honor in leading such a significant and democratic party in Goa, stating, “I will uphold the legacy established by our leaders, including Shripad Naik, Rajendra Arlekar, Laxmikant Parsekar, and the late Manohar Parrikar.” Naik further committed to maintaining the party’s values and initiatives for the welfare of the public, prioritizing the nation, the party, and the individual. Naik, a member of the Bhandari community, began his involvement with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of six. He became a karyakarta in the BJP in 1994 and entered state politics in 1999. He was elected as an MLA in 2002 from the Fatorda constituency in South Goa, a position he successfully retained in the 2007 assembly elections. Over the years, he has held various roles within the party, including serving as president of the Goan Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha from 2002 to 2006. Since 2012, he has acted as the party’s state spokesperson and general secretary, and he has also served as the vice-chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa.