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Lifelong RSS member who dabbled in film industry — meet the new Goa BJP chief

Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik, who joined RSS when he was 6, has been with the BJP for over 3 decades. He has also dabbled in the entertainment industry.

Damodar Naik, from the Bhandari community, joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was 6. He joined the BJP as a karyakarta in 1994 and actively entered state politics in 1999. (X/@DamuNaik)

Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik, BJP’s general secretary in Goa who has been with the party for over three decades, was appointed the state party president Saturday.

Naik (53), a two-time former legislator, was the only candidate to file his nomination papers at the party headquarters in Panaji on Friday. Sunil Bansal, BJP’s national general secretary, said the party unanimously recommended Naik’s name for the post of Goa BJP president.

Naik, from the Bhandari community, joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was 6. He joined the BJP as a karyakarta in 1994 and actively entered state politics in 1999.

In 2002, he was elected as an MLA from South Goa’s Fatorda constituency, a seat he retained in the next assembly polls in 2007. Over the years, he has held several roles in the party. He was president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha of Goa from 2002 to 2006. Since 2012, he has been the party’s general secretary and spokesperson in the state. From April 2014 to September 2016, he was the vice chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa.

After filing the nomination on Friday, Naik said his priority will be strengthening the party organisation with the support of its cadre.

“Sangathan mazboot karna meri prathimikta hai (Strengthening the party will be my priority). I have been working at the grassroots level. The state goes for Assembly elections in 2027. I will make sure to take everyone in the party along,” he told The Indian Express.

“The BJP is the world’s largest party with 15 crore members across the country and over 4.5 lakh members in Goa… I have reached this position from a simple karyakarta,” he said.

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In his debut speech as party chief, Naik urged party workers to refrain from airing ‘internal’ disagreements on social media.

“Do not express your dissatisfaction on social media. The BJP is like a family. We should resolve our differences within the organisation…We may disagree with each other at times, but eventually, we reconcile,” he said.

Naik said disagreements typically occur at the time of elections over the selection of candidates.

“But, we should trust the party’s decision to pick the right candidate. You may not like that particular candidate but don’t betray the party,” he said.

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Naik then appealed to party workers to start preparations for 2027 Assembly elections in the state.

“Every karyakarta must work towards winning 27 seats in the 2027 elections. Our aim should be [to win] 27 [seats] in 2027,” he added.

Naik has dabbled in producing regional films and dramas and donned the hat of an actor in Marathi and Konkani dramas and one-act plays. He produced a Konkani film, Jaagor, in 2009, which was runners up at the 8th All Goa Film Festival. He also produced a Konkani drama, Sorry Wrong Number, which won a state-level award. He has acted in films such as Home Sweet Home, Gunaji and 500 Rupee Note.

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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