The Chetan Desai-led panel won four of the five seats contested leaving the seat of president to former secretary Vipul Phadke in the elections to the Managing Committee held at the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) office in Porvorim on Thursday.
“This is a victory of the clubs. I am sure all members from my panel will work for the betterment of cricket in Goa. My brother may have lost but that will not stop my panel members from fulfilling the wishes of the clubs that have supported us through this election,” stated Chetan Desai after congratulating the members of his panel.
Shamba Desai, Rupesh Naik, Daya Pagi and Rajesh Patnekar from the Chetan Desai panel won the vice president, joint secretary, treasurer and members posts by 54, 56, 63 and 75 votes respectively. President Vipul Phadke polled 55 votes.
“My winning is an indication that my job as secretary has been liked. I enjoyed working as secretary and am sure that I will continue the good work with members of the new team elected by the clubs,” Vipul Phadke told the press after his election.
“Winning and losing are part of elections and one has to be prepared for both when deciding to contest. Vipul is the son of my friend and I wish him all the best," stated Mahesh Desai who polled 52 votes. “The important thing is that my brother’s panel won. My election does not really matter,” claimed Mahesh who is a former Ranji player of Goa.
“I am happy for all the members who won this election. Whose panel I belong to is not important as I was elected unopposed. What is important is that we take cricket forward together as a family," said Rohan Desai who was the only member to have been declared elected unopposed.
“I thank the clubs for having reposed faith in me and the panel of Chetan Desai. I had won elected unopposed the last time and the clubs once again reposed faith in me for the work I did and I will continue keeping the clubs in mind first," stated vice president-elect Shamba Desai who got 54 votes against Anant Naik who polled 53 votes.
“I was sure of winning because Chetan Desai has a pedigree of his own in cricket in Goa. He has been with clubs for the last 35-odd years and has always kept them first in mind. I owe my victory to him,” stated joint secretary-elect Rupesh Naik who polled 56 votes against his opponents' 51.
Former secretary Daya Pagi who won with 63 votes against opponent Saibar Mulla who got 44 votes though upset that the panel had not got a clean sweep was thankful to the “clubs for having reposed faith in him again. “I had withdrawn from the fray in favour of Vipul during the last elections for the good of cricket and I hope we will continue doing good for the game now,” stated Daya Pagi.
Former Speaker Rajesh Patnekar won after polling 75 votes – the highest- against the 32 polled by Govind Gaonkar. “I was a cricketer before I joined politics and I am thankful to Chetan for having helped me get elected,” said Rajesh after the polls.