Team Herald
PANJIM: Fearing a clear whitewash and to avoid further embarrassment, current Goa Cricket Association president Dr Shekhar Salkar compromised with Secretary Chetan Desai and withdrew from the fray for the post of GCA president.
The compromise came during the scrutiny of nominations by the Election Committee appointed by the Bombay High Court at Goa at the GCA headquarters, in Porvorim on Saturday, a day ahead of the GCA elections.
A notice by president of the Election Committee, Justice (Retd) AP Lavande and signed by the other two members senior advocate Nitin Sardessai and Rajnikant Lawandis, said, “…election to the post of President, Life Member, and 13 Ordinary Members, which is scheduled on 28/06/2015 stands cancelled in view of withdrawal of nominations by the contesting candidates.”
The Election Committee will submit its report to the High Court on Monday. The two factions are understood to have also withdrawn all cases against each other in the court and police stations and if everything goes smoothly, the High Court may pass an order and declare the winning candidate and its executive committee on Tuesday.
Following the infighting between the two heavy weights, it was only Dr Salkar and Desai in fray for the post of the GCA president after four candidates – Suraj Lotlikar, Akbar Mulla, Vinod Phadke and Vallabh Prabhu – withdrew their nominations Saturday morning.
Moreover, the entire 13-member panel of Dr Salkar stepped back along with three other candidates from the Executive Committee members list of 39.
With Dr Salkar’s hopes crumbling, it was GCA’s co-opted member and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldesai who intervened and held talks with Dr Salkar and Desai for an amicable solution “for the betterment of cricket in Goa”.
On the other hand, Desai could not hide his joy after a turbulent period where he was removed and reinstated as secretary twice in recent times. “In any case I was going to win so a compromise was the best solution,” said Desai.
Although Dr Salkar has not been guaranteed a role in the GCA, the latter has extended full support and corporation to Desai and his fraction.
“We will withdraw all police and court cases. All problems between us will be solved,” said Dr Salkar while addressing the media in the evening.
“With the larger interest of cricket, Subhash Phaldesai asked our group to withdraw and allow Desai to take over the reins of the GCA. The association will start afresh with all like-minded people coming together,” added Dr Salkar.
Desai’s 13-member Executive Committee may likely comprise Akbar Mulla, Daya Pagi, Desh Kinlekar, Jamir Daud Carol, Mohan Hari Chodankar, Manohar Naik, Sayed Abdul Majid, Shrikrishna Tari, Suraj Lotlikar, Venkatesh Ganesh Prabhu Dessai, Vijay Gaonkar, Vinod Phadke and Yatin Kamurlikar. Sujay Kumar Netravalkar might fill the post of the life member as the 14th member in the Executive Committee.
