MARGAO
The election of the new managing committee of the Gomantak Goud Maratha Samaj for the term 2024-27 on Friday ended on a controversial note, with a section of members crying foul over the election procedure.
Advisor for the Samaj, Prakash Velip, however, rejected the claim of foul play, saying the election was conducted as per the notice of the general body meeting issued in the local newspapers.
The group led by Govind Shirodkar, Shankar Gaonkar and others contended that while the Secretary had fixed the election at 3 pm at the general body meeting held on Saturday, the election process was started at 2 pm. Shirodkar further contended that though members had proposed his name for the post of president, the election was conducted without a secret ballot, questioning the legality of the election process. “When two names are proposed for the post, how come an election is not conducted by secret ballot? This is absurd. We will take legal recourse,” he said.
Gaonkar said the election was conducted against the wishes of the majority of the members. “This is a sad day in the history of our Samaj. We will knock on the doors of the court for justice. We will also file a complaint with the police,” he said.
Velip, however, said the notice of the general body meeting was very clear, that the election was scheduled at 2 pm on Friday. “Ignorance of law and rules cannot be an excuse,” he said.
Velip said the rule was clear that the election is to be held by secret ballot or by show of hands, adding that most of the members favoured an election by show of hands in support of Vishwas Gawde. “There is no foul play. The allegations are false and baseless,” Velip asserted.
