State bids emotional farewell to young politician
Ponda: Goa woke up to a heartbreaking tragedy on Friday morning as news spread of the untimely demise of Dr Ketan Bhatikar, a noted physiotherapist, Congress leader and one of Ponda’s promising young political faces.
Bhatikar reportedly died following a snakebite in the early hours of Friday.
A pall of gloom descended across Ponda and the entire state following the sudden death of the 41-year-old leader. Bhatikar is survived by his father Kirtikumar Prabhu Bhatikar, mother Nilambari Bhatikar, elder brother Dr Kautuk Bhatikar, sister-in-law and other family members.
A fluent orator, a smiling social worker and a grassroots politician admired across party lines, Bhatikar’s shocking demise has left the political and medical fraternities devastated, with thousands mourning the loss of a leader many believed was destined for greater heights in Goa politics.
According to preliminary reports and eyewitness accounts, Bhatikar had travelled to Dandeli on Thursday evening along with his close friend and associate Sushant Kavlekar to attend a meeting. After completing the engagement and meeting another acquaintance on the way, the duo reportedly began their return journey towards Goa around midnight.
As their vehicle was passing through the Anmod Ghat stretch near the Mollem check-post on the Goa-Karnataka border, they halted briefly by the roadside.
As Bhatikar was answering nature’s call, his mobile phone fell on the ground and while he attempted to pick it up, a snake reportedly bit him.
Moments later, while seated inside the car, Bhatikar informed his friend that something had bitten his hand. Realising the seriousness of the situation, he immediately instructed Kavlekar to drive towards Ponda for urgent medical treatment.
However, within a short span of time, Bhatikar reportedly began losing consciousness inside the vehicle. With no immediate medical facility available between Anmod and Mollem, Kavlekar rushed him to the Dharbandora Primary Health Centre in a desperate attempt to save his life.
Doctors at the health centre stated that Bhatikar was brought in by a 108 ambulance at approximately 3.32 am. He was reportedly unresponsive upon arrival, and an ECG examination showed a “flatline”. Following frantic attempts by the medical staff to revive Bhatikar, doctors declared him dead at 3.45 am.
According to medical sources, only minor abrasion-like injury marks were initially visible, while his lips had reportedly turned bluish. Preliminary suspicion pointed towards a venomous snakebite. Subsequently a post-mortem examination conducted at the South Goa District Hospital, Margao, revealed a distinct bite mark on the right hand, strengthening the suspicion of snake envenomation. The cause of death has been certified as ‘cerebral and pulmonary edema consequent to neurotoxic snakebite poisoning’. Following post-mortem, the mortal remains of Bhatikar were taken to Ponda for the last rites.
Collem police and health authorities have initiated further investigation into the incident while the viscera is preserved for toxicological analysis.
Bhatikar was widely regarded as one of the emerging political leaders from Ponda. A self-made personality with no traditional political background, he carved a niche for himself through relentless social work, public outreach and accessibility to ordinary citizens.
Beginning his public journey through ‘Rising Ponda’ and later the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Bhatikar steadily built a loyal support base among youth and grassroots workers. His popularity surged due to his humanitarian work, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he tirelessly assisted people in distress.
In the 2022 Goa assembly elections, he contested on an MGP ticket, but narrowly missed victory against veteran leader late Ravi Naik by only a handful of votes – a result that firmly established him as a formidable force in Ponda politics.
Recently, Bhatikar had joined Congress and emerged as its official face for the Ponda bye-election. Political observers believed he stood a strong chance of victory and could have posed a serious challenge to the ruling BJP.
However, the bye-election was cancelled following a verdict from the High Court of Bombay at Goa, a decision that Bhatikar challenged before the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition (SLP).
As news of his death spread, an overwhelming wave of grief swept through Ponda and several of Bhatikar’s friends, supporters and admirers thronged his residence at Sai Nagar-Durgabhat and later at the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, where his mortal remains were kept, to pay their last respects to the leader.
Thousands of well-wishers accompanied the final journey of Bhatikar as the procession made way towards the Muktidham crematorium at Warkhande in Ponda where the leader was cremated in the evening amid heart-rending scenes.
Bhatikar’s father performed the final rites and offered the sacred mantragni to his son’s mortal remains as the atmosphere turned poignant. Family members, close associates, political leaders and thousands of grief-stricken supporters bid a tearful farewell to the young leader.
Meanwhile, following Bhatikar’s death, the Supreme Court on Friday closed the Congress leader’s plea challenging the High Court order to cancel the Ponda assembly bypoll.
According to a PTI report, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta abated the proceeding on Bhatikar’s plea after the bench was informed of his death due to snakebite.
The Ponda bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Ravi Naik on October 15 last year.
The High Court had quashed the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) notification for the bypoll, citing violation of the Representation of the People Act, as the legislature’s term is set to expire in less than a year. Two registered voters in the constituency had moved the High Court challenging the validity of the ECI notification.
