The Congress fraternity is united in sorrow over the death of Karnataka veteran Bhimanna Naik, with President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi leading the tributes. Naik’s contributions to party building and public welfare are being celebrated amid grief.
Kharge lauded Naik as an ‘indefatigable warrior’ whose organizational prowess fortified Congress in tough terrains. Gandhi remembered him as a ‘friend and guide,’ emphasizing his role in nurturing talent.
At 78, Naik lost his battle with illness in Bidar, prompting immediate reactions from the high command. His career highlights include multiple electoral victories and ministerial stints focused on rural infrastructure.
State leaders like Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar described Naik as a mentor figure, whose advice shaped key decisions. Even BJP leaders extended sympathies, acknowledging his statesmanlike conduct.
Naik’s activism spanned drought relief, education reforms, and minority welfare, resonating with Congress’s core values. He was instrumental in the party’s 2018 resurgence in north Karnataka.
With local polls looming, his strategies for voter engagement are under discussion. Naik’s emphasis on door-to-door campaigns set benchmarks for efficiency.
The funeral saw bipartisan attendance, with full honors declared. Family members expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, as messages flooded in from global Congress chapters.
Historians of Karnataka politics view Naik’s era as transitional, bridging old guards with new. His memoirs, if penned, would offer insights into behind-the-scenes maneuvers.
As mourning continues, Congress resolves to honor Naik by intensifying grassroots work, ensuring his ideals endure in the party’s onward march.