MAPUSA
Former councillor of Mapusa Municipal Council, Anand Bhaidkar was re-elected as the president of Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Devasthan, Mapusa on Sunday even as elections to 34 devasthan (temple) committees in Bardez passed off peacefully.
Anand Bhaidkar polled 413 votes while his rival Mahesh Rane bagged 297 votes.
The election process which began at 10 am ended at well passed 9 pm when the final results were announced.
“The elections to all 34 devasthans took place in a peaceful manner. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the taluka,” said Rahul Desai, Mamlatdar of Bardez, who is the administrator of devalayas in Bardez.
The managing committees in most of the temples in Bardez were elected unopposed and the elections wound up by noon.
The following were the other members elected to the managing committee of the Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Devasthan: Secretary, Vaman Pandit, Treasurer, Pandurang Korgaonkar and Attorney, Rajendra Pednekar.
It may be recalled, Anand Bhaidkar was also elected as the President of the managing committee in the previous term.
Shree Dev Bodgeshwar is the largest temple in Bardez while the popular Bodgeswar zatra draws large number of devotees.
The following were the members elected to the managing committee of the Vithal Rakmai temple, Ansabhat, Mapusa: President - Tushar Tople, Secretary - Paresh Natekar, Treasurer - Dinesh Mishal and Attorney - Suraj Dangi.
Similarly, the following were the members elected to the managing committee of the Maharudra Saunsthan, Mapusa: President - Govind Shirodkar, Secretary - Jayesh Keni, Treasurer - Jagdish Mapsekar and Attorney - Sanket Mapsekar.
The new managing committees will be in office for the term of 2019-22. Elections to the devasthans are held after every three years.
