PANAJI
A battle royale is expected to ensue over the next few days for control of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) as two powerful factions will lock horns at the elections scheduled for September 16.
The filing of nominations ended on Thursday and the battle is shaping up into a gripping duel between a faction led by the current top honcho Rohan Desai and another faction which is led by prominent cricket administrator of yesteryears Chetan Desai.
Members of either panels will be in head-to-head contests for four key posts of the GCA's managing committee -- President, Vice President, Joint Secretary and Treasurer. The crucial post of secretary will see a three-cornered fight.
Former Ranji Trophy cricketer Mahesh Desai, who is the younger brother of Chetan Desai will lock horns with Mahesh Candolkar of the opposing panel for the President's post.
Former Goa speaker and BJP leader from Bicholim, Rajesh Patnekar is in the fray for the vice-president's post and is being challenged by Paresh Fadte.
For the secretary's post Daya Pagi, Hemant Pai Angle and Tulshidas Shetye are in the fray.
The contest for Joint Secretary is between Anant Naik and Sushant G Naik, while the Treasurer's position will see Rupesh Naik compete against Sayed Majid.
Two more candidates are in the fray for the Committee's 'member' position -- Mahesh Behki and Megnath Shirodkar.
In all 107 clubs are eligible to participate in the election and their authorised representatives will cast the vote.
Both Chetan and Rohan are prominent cricket administrators. While Chetan in the past has been secretary and president of the GCA and even officiated as manager of the Indian cricket team on foreign tours severally, Rohan is currently the GCA secretary and was recently in March elected as joint secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to fill the vacancy caused by the elevation of the incumbent Devajit Saikia as the powerful body's secretary.
