Indranil Naik’s name making rounds for forest minister’s post

MUMBAI: After Sanjay Rathod’s resignation as State Forest Minister, Pusad MLA Indranil Naik’s name is being considered for the post as his successor.

According to sources, Indranil Naik may get a cabinet post. Indranil is the son of Manoharrao Naik and grandson of former Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik.

While attending a convention in Mumbai, Indranil said, “I am currently in Mumbai on the occasion of the convention. We are all confident that Sanjay Rathore will come out clean (in Pooja Chavan suicide case)”. He added, “I would accept the responsibility if given by the party.”

Vasantrao Phulsing Naik (1 July 1913 – 18 August 1979) was an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1963 until 1975. To this date, he remains as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Madhya Pradesh during 1952-1957, of the then bilingual Bombay State during 1957-1960 and of Maharashtra from 1960 to 1977.

In 1952, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Revenue in the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He was made Minister for Cooperation in 1957 and, later, Minister for Agriculture in the Government of Bombay State. From 1960 to 1963, he was Minister for Revenue in the Government of Maharashtra. Manohar Naik has been elected as MLA from Pusad (Vidhan Sabha constituency) of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Yavatmal district from 1995 to 1999, 2004–2009, 2009–2014, and 2014–2019.

Vasantrao Naik, Manoharrao Naik and Sanjay Rathore are the leading leaders of the Banjara community in the state to date.

Maharashtra Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday after he came under the scanner over his alleged links to the death of TikTok star Pooja Chavan in Pune.