Chess welcomes a new head, a politician Times News Network, April 29 Goa’s politician-riddled sports associations welcomes yet another politician in its fold as Vinay Tendulkar, president of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party(BJP), was elected president of the Goa Chess Association on Sunday.
Tendulkar grabbed 23 of the possible 24 votes but received a setback when Sanjay Kavlekar, perceived to be the president - elect’s man, announced his withdrawal from the race. Kavlekar, a coach employed with the Sports Authority of Goa(SAG) was forced to withdraw following some strong words from the All India Chess Federation, less than 24 hours before the elections. Kavlekar’s ‘withdrawal’ paved the way for Kishore Bandekar to be elected Secretary and is now faced with the tough task of cleaning the mess that has set in. “For the last two years, chess has taken a backseat and politics took over. Players and parents were selectively targeted, unworthy names were promoted and the less said the better about the manner in which chess was being promoted in the state,” said a chess official. For the past several months, chess has been making news for all the wrong reasons. Some of Goa;s leading names have come up with strong performances at National and International level, but faced with the prospect of facing elections, the previous committee did not cover itself in glory. “It all began with the formation of the taluka associations. They hand-picked their own men, including, in some cases, family members and those who they felt would become a hindrance to them were selectively kept out,” said another anguished parent whose child has been at the rough end of the GCA stick. The manner in which the association snatched the voting rights of its life members, ostensibly in line with AICF directives and the yet-to-be-implemented Sports Code left a bitter taste in the mouths of several veterans. “Right from illegally amending the constitution and depriving voting rights to its members to forming taluka level associations by hand-picking own nominees who now occupy the top posts, there has been a planned and systematic rigging of the electoral process. Some of the taluka nominees do not even know and understand chess,” Sandeep Heble, a member of Tiswadi Taluka Chess Association complained in one of the letters to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. There were several other complaints too. Like violation of Government rules and CCS Circulars by SAG Coaches. The SAG, too, did not exactly cover itself in glory after they withdrew a NOC given to Kavlekar, then, presumably under political pressure, issued it again, only for the AICF to put a stop. Tendulkar is the new man at the top of the chess board. He must ensure the same old people, and vices, do not afflict the sport again.
