In the nineties, Ganesh Naik was a formidable name in Belapur who enjoyed the mass support of the local community, especially the aagris. As a Shiv ‘Sainik’, he helped the party grow its base in the area and is known to have single-handedly run the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) or years with an iron fist, decimating opposition. In 2009, he quit the Sena to join the NCP with scores of his supporters following him into the party. But for a man who views political supremacy and electoral winnability as the most important criteria for a career in politics, he moved to the BJP exactly after a decade in 2019. He had lost the assembly elections in 2014 probably in the famous ‘Modi Wave’. Until then, Naik had been on a mega winning spree. AT that time, he took along almost 50 corporators from the municipal corporation, which underscores the value he brings to a party. Naik has proudly claimed to have controlled the NMMC since its inception in 1992.
Naik entered the state assembly in 1994 when he won from Thane with a record margin. It was the time when the Shiv Sena’s Anand Dighe was a formidable force in Thane and Naik got the support of the party cadre. After his fall-out with the Sena in 1999, he joined the NCP and won twice from Airoli. It is said Dighe had opposed him after the initial term. Naik has held several key portfolios in the state government including labour, environment and forests and the lucrative excise department. He was credited with introducing the concept of a Janata Darbar during his time with the Shiv Sena where, as a minister, he would routinely meet people, lend them a helping ear and solve their problems.
His sons Sandeep and Sanjeev are also active in the politics of Belapur-Airoli. Sanjeev became the first and the youngest mayor of the NMMC after its formation in 1992. In 2009, Sanjeev won the Parliamentary elections from Thane on an NCP ticket.
Naik’s other son Sandeep began his career as a corporator in the NMMC which his father unofficially controlled for decades. He was also elected unopposed as the chairman of the standing committee of NMMC. HE rose to prominence after winning the 2009 assembly elections. The family runs several social initiatives in the region of Belapur-Airoli.
In 2024, the father-son duo threatened to quit the BJP if both weren’t given a nomination for the assembly elections. They were considering the NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Given their political clout, the BJP nominated both, Ganesh and Sandeep to avoid losing ground in the area.
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