PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday turned down the opposition MLAs’ demand to defer the Budget presentation till after the civic polls process concludes. Sawant said he will go ahead with the presentation of the Budget on March 24.
“Just because the opposition MLAs want something, it can’t be done. Protocols have to be followed when it comes to the Assembly sessions,” Sawant said, after attending the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting at the Goa Assembly Complex.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Earlier in the day, opposition MLAs demanded that the Chief Minister defer the presentation of Budget and seek a vote on account for the first three months of the fiscal year in view of the model code of conduct in force for the municipal elections. However, Sawant stood firm in his decision to present the Budget on March 24.
The opposition wrote to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Speaker Rajesh Patnekar, Chief Election Commissioner and the State Election Commissioner (SEC) demanding that the Chief Minister be directed to place on the table of the House the annual financial statement and seek a vote on account for 2021-2022 in view of the election code of conduct for the municipal polls.
A joint representation signed by Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, Marcaim MLA Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai was submitted to the Speaker during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting.
In the memorandum they stated that the Supreme Court has directed the SEC to conduct elections in free and fair manner to five municipal councils before April 30, 2021 after ensuring that proper procedure is followed in ward reservations etc.
They stated that elections to these five municipal councils are likely to be announced any moment and the date of polling is also likely to coincide with the schedule of the Budget session. The SEC will also extend the election code of conduct presently in force for the six municipal councils and CCP elections till the elections to the other five municipal councils are completed.
The memorandum further states that during the election process, and especially when the code of conduct is in force, the government should not be permitted to make any announcements, declare any new schemes and give any assurances for public benefit during the Budget session, which may directly or indirectly influence the mind of the people and have an impact on the elections.
All the Opposition MLAs have stated that necessary directions be given to the government to place on table of the House annual financial statement for the year 2021-2022 on March 24 and seek vote on account for a short period. The House needs to be adjourned until the election for the five municipal councils are concluded and results declared. The House be reconvened after the municipal election process is completed to take up the remaining business, they added.
They demanded that Budget session of Goa Assembly be curtailed to just two days and that the remaining Assembly session be adjourned.
Kamat recalled that when he was Chief Minister, he had adjourned the Assembly sessions too and that there were precedents in other States where Assemblies were adjourned, countering Sawant’s assertion that it can’t be done.
The Leader of the Opposition also submitted another letter of recommendation to the Business Advisory Committee demanding that time bound and correct replies are provided to the MLAs. He also pointed out that the records of assurances given in the House are not circulated to the members in the stipulated time. He has also asked the Speaker to frame guidelines on motion of congratulations and condolences.
