Ex-councillor to contest for top post of Bodgeswar temple
MAPUSA
Former councillor of the Mapusa Municipal Council and outgoing president of the temple managing committee, Anand Bhaidkar will be crossing swords with Mahesh Rane for the post of the president of Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Devasthan Sausthan, Mapusa to elect the new managing committee even as elections to 34 devasthan (temple) committees in Bardez will be held today (March 13).
In what appears to be a high-stake contest, Vamant Pandit and Ashok Govekar will be contesting for the post of secretary while Guru Vaigankar, Shripad Yende and Pandurang Korgoankar are contesting for the treasurer’s post to elect the new Shree Dev Bodgeshwar committee.
Similarly, Nandakishore Shirgaonkar and Madan Arabekar and Rajendra Pednekar are contesting for the attorney’s post.
The process to elect the new managing committees of all devasthans which were due to be held last month was postponed due to the assembly elections.
According to the Mamlatdar of Bardez, Rahul Desai, who is also the administrator of Devalayas (temples) in Bardez, one government representative will be deputed to every devasthan as an observer for the election.
Besides Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Saunsthan, Mapusa, keen fight is expected to take place to elect the managing committees of Shree Maharudra Saunsthan, Mapusa, Shree Shantadurga Devasthan, Candolim, Shree Ram Devasthan Temple, Colvale, Shree Siddeshwar Devasthan, Caisua-Chapora and Shree Shantadurga Devasthan, Calangute.
Elections to the devasthans are held after every three years and the new managing committee will be in office for a fresh three-year term of 2022-25.