Digambar’s son and 8 others elected to managing committee
MARGAO
Elections for the new managing committee of the Margao-based BPS club on Sunday generated keen interest with Yogiraj, the son of Congress-turned-Margao MLA Digambar Kamat in the fray, and hundreds of members, including a couple of present and former MLAs, besides sitting MP, all turning up to cast their vote.
At the end of counting on late Sunday evening, Yogiraj and eight other candidates, Verlekar Vikram Ulhas, George Santosh Savio, Da Costa Franksy, Dourado Volusiano, Manguerish Kunde, Naik Chirag Datta, Pinto Sunit, Shirwaikar Shashank were declared elected to the managing committee. Verlekar Vikram Ulhas emerged victorious with the highest number of votes, around 495 votes to be precise, followed by incumbent president Santosh George ((483 votes).
Santosh George told The Goan that the newly-elected members of the management club would propose the name of Yogiraj for the post of BPS Club president.
The father-son duo of Digambar and Yogiraj said there’s no politics in the elections held for the managing committee. The Margao MLA, who was seen at the BPS Club premises since morning till Sunday evening, made no bones of the fact that Yogiraj is his son and it is his duty to request his friends and well wishes to vote in his favour.
Besides sitting South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, MLAs who cast their vote in the elections includes Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai, Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira, Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares, besides ex-deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, former MLA Damu Naik and others.
Sons of former Minister late Babu Naik, Bhai and Vinay Naik, besides Margao Municipal Chairperson Arthur D’Silva were also seen at the BPS centre on Sunday evening after casting their vote.
“There’s no politics in the election for the BPS managing committee. Those who are contesting are not politicians, but basically hail from the business background,” Digambar told The Goan.
Yogiraj informed there’s no politics in the election, saying no political party has supported any candidate, adding there is no panel voting and members have to vote for individual members. “BPS is a club and those who are contesting the elections all form part of friends circle. Whoever wins the election, we will involve everyone to take the Club forward,” Yogiraj said.
Asked to outline his plans for the Club if he wins the polls, Yogiraj said the AGM had made a budget provision to set up a gymnasium and to build a new club house. “To execute the plan, the club requires fund. We will have to call the special AGM to discuss the funding of the new club house and prepare a special budget,” he said.
Incumbent BPS Club president, Santosh George echoed similar sentiments, saying the new managing committee will set in motion the process to take the vision forward. “We have proposed a ground-plus-four storied building with amenities including a swimming pool, a new gymnasium, yoga room, etc. But, we need funds to the tune of Rs 8 crore to execute the plan,” he said.
George added: “The AGM will approve a good structural engineer to put the plans in place. This project should come in the next three years.”
Goa Forward chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “There is never politics in the election for the BPS Club election. This time too I hope there is no politics,” he said.
