PANAJI
At the election to the managing committee of the Ravalnath Devasthan in Velus, Sattari, Rajaram Satu Gavkar was elected the president and Suresh Gavkar the secretary unanimously but the process was boycotted by the Gurav Mahajan community alleging that their rights in the temple affairs were being denied.
The group alleged that they were not being given their due rights in the voting process following which the Gaonkar community went ahead and elected the panel unanimously.
Meanwhile, across Sattari elections were held to pick managing committees of eight temples under the Mahajania Act.
Except for the Ravalnath temple in Velus, all other elections were held peacefully and a tough contest was witnessed at Keri, Sattari.
For several years the Ravalnath Temple at Velus has seen an internecine dispute between the Gaonkar and the Gurav communities regarding its administration.
The conflict first arose since the Gurav community lacked equal rights within the temple, including to conduct some rituals.
On Sunday, as soon as the election process began, the Gurav community strongly opposed it arguing that the number of voters from the Gavkar community was significantly higher than theirs and alleged that it was not being conducted as per the Mahajania law.
They raised the demand for cancellation of the process which was not considered.
Rajaram Satu Gaokar was declared elected unopposed since his was the only nomination received. Similarly, Suresh Gavkar was elected secretary and Tulshidas Gavkar the treasurer.
Goakar meanwhile claimed that the election was conducted as per the law and the Gurav community has recourse to legal options if they are aggrieved.
The election was conducted under the supervision of the Mamlatdar.
