09 May 2024  |   08:18pm IST

Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar Dismisses Disqualification Petition Against Michael Lobo & Digambar Kamat

Team Herald

Speaker 

of the Goa Legislative Assembly 

Ramesh Tawadkar has dismissed the disqualification petition filed by Goa Congress President Amit Patkar against two former party MLAs, Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo.

Tawadkar confirmed the dismissal of the petition, indicating that detailed reasons for the decision would be provided in the forthcoming public order.

The petition, filed by Patkar in July 2022, stemmed from Kamat and Lobo's apparent inclination towards the BJP. At the time, both leaders were Congress MLAs but had exhibited discontent with the party. Lobo, in particular, held the position of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly when the disqualification petition was filed.

The development comes after both Kamat and Lobo, along with six other MLAs, switched allegiance to the BJP in September 2022, following the filing of the disqualification petition.

This decision follows recent directives from the Supreme Court, which, on April 14, expressed concern over the delay in handling the disqualification cases. The Court heard a petition seeking action on pending disqualification petitions against eight Congress rebel MLAs, including Lobo and Kamat.