Ponda bypoll candidate Ketan Bhatikar succumbs to snakebite in Karnataka

Panaji: Congress candidate for the Ponda bypoll, Ketan Bhatikar, died on Friday after being bitten by a venomous snake in Karnataka. The postmortem report has confirmed that the cause of death was snakebite. Collem police have registered the case as an unnatural death.

After Bhatikar was declared dead, his supporters gathered outside his residence in Ponda to pay their final tributes. Chief minister Pramod Sawant and several other politicians also visited his residence to pay homage and offer condolences.

Sushant Kavlekar, who had accompanied Bhatikar to Dandeli in Karnataka on Thursday, said that the latter had called him earlier in the evening expressing his intention to attend a meeting. Kavlekar said he was initially reluctant to travel to Dandeli but agreed after Bhatikar indicated that he would go alone if necessary.

“We left Ponda around 5pm. On our return journey, we decided to stop for dinner. As Bhatikar was diabetic, we halted on an internal road at Anmod so he could relieve himself. He was carrying two mobile phones, and one slipped onto the roadside. After picking it up, Bhatikar told me that something had bitten him,” Kavlekar said.

Bhatikar then complained of dizziness at around 1am. However, the duo continued their journey towards Goa in the same four-wheeler. Kavlekar said that later, Bhatikar fell unconscious, following which he immediately informed his brother over the phone.

By the time the vehicle reached Mollem, an ambulance was already waiting at the checkpost. Bhatikar was then taken to the Primary Health Centre in Dharbandora, where doctors declared him brought dead. Politicians across party lines expressed shock over the incident.

The chief minister said that he was “Deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the untimely passing of the renowned physiotherapist, Dr Ketan Bhatikar. His departure is a profound loss to the medical community. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. May his soul attain Sadgati.”

Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “Bhatikar’s unwavering commitment to public service and invaluable contributions to society will always be remembered with great respect,” Congress president Amit Patkar said.

Bhatikar started his political career with Goa Suraksha Manch and contested his first assembly election from Panaji in 2017. He then joined MGP, and contested against BJP candidate and former chief minister Ravi Naik in 2022 from Ponda, where he lost by just 77 votes.Later, Bhatikar joined Congress and filed his nomination papers to contest the Ponda bypoll in March 2026, which was cancelled following a high court direction.