GCA polls: Govt-backed panel beaten 0-6 as heavyweights retain control

Panaji: Mahesh Dessai proved to be second time lucky as the former allrounder swept aside the challenge of Mahesh Candolkar to become the first Ranji Trophy cricketer to head the Goa Cricket Association (GCA).

Mahesh, who lost the elections in 2022 by just three votes, picked up 62 of the 107 votes for a comfortable win.

Backed by his brother Chetan Dessai, a former GCA president, and other chiefs like Vinod Phadke, Vipul Phadke, Suraj Lotlikar, besides Akbar Mulla, the panel made a clean sweep, winning contests for all six posts which included president, vice president, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer and member.
The opposing panel, which called itself ‘parivartan’ or change and enjoyed the backing of the state govt, fell flat on its face. None of the contestants came close to winning, despite being propped by Rohan Gauns Dessai, joint secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a key BJP functionary in the state.

Former Speaker and BJP legislator, Rajesh Patnekar and WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar’s brother, Meghnath, were among those who tasted defeat. Two ministers – Digambar Kamat and Nilkanth Halarnkar – voted in the polls on Tuesday.

The six panel members had also proudly posed with chief minister Pramod Sawant two days before the election.

“We were under tremendous pressure, but the clubs stood by us,” Mahesh, former assistant commissioner of Customs and GST, told TOI after his win on Tuesday. “I am grateful to the clubs for their overwhelming support. They proved that they cannot be influenced.”

Outgoing GCA president Vipul spoke of “outsiders” trying to dictate terms to the clubs. “All of them have been rejected,” he said.

The panel backed by Chetan and Phadke had maintained that they would pick up 80% of the votes. It didn't go exactly to plan, but when counting for the first post of member was taken up, it showed which way the wind was blowing.

Mahesh Behki got 65 votes, defeating Meghnath Shirodkar, a heavyweight candidate for the post, and once the message from the counting hall was relayed to the supporters on the field, there were celebrations all around.

Sayed Abdul Majid then led 17-1 and 25-2 against Rupesh Naik for the treasurer’s post, before eventually winning 58-48.

“Now there is no stopping us,” said Mulla, even before the results were officially announced.

Seeing the celebrations on the field, those backing the parivartan panel quietly slipped out of the GCA Academy ground in Porvorim.

Eventually, when AK Joti, former election commissioner and the electoral officer here, finished counting, the Chetan-Phadke group triumphed without breaking sweat. Among the winners were joint secretary Anant Shambu Naik (70-36), secretary Tulshidas Shetye (59-43) and vice-president Paresh Fadte (63-43).

Contesting as an independent, former Goa Ranji Trophy vice- captain Hemant Angle received three votes for the secretary’s post.

Mahesh, though, became the first Ranji Trophy cricketer to be elected as GCA president. He was part of the first Ranji squad in 1985-86 and had impressive spells, claiming the wickets of Gundappa Vishwanath and K Srikanth. An allrounder, the 64-year-old also captained the Panjim Gymkhana cricket team.

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Mahesh. “I was confident because I had the backing of the heavyweights of Goan cricket. This is big win, but credit to the stalwarts. Our priority should be the construction of an international stadium. It’s the need of the hour and we are definitely starting work with the help of the clubs and state govt.”