Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar has now called Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar to seek some clarification regarding his disqualification petition filed by him against 10 rebel Congress MLAs who joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in July 2019.
Chodankar has been asked to remain present in the Speaker’s chamber at Goia Assembly Complex, Porvorim at 11 am on Friday, March 12. When contacted, Chodankar confirmed the development and added he has been asked to be present in person or through his counsel.
To a question, Chodankar said that the Supreme Court was also yet to decide the case filed by AICC secretary and MP Dr Chellakumar against former Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane, who defied whip and joined BJP in March 2017.
“Vishwajit had violated Congress Party’s whip during trust vote and he attracted disqualification as MLA as per Anti-Defection Act,” Chodankar said adding that he will inquire with Dr Chellakumar about the status of the case.
On Thursday, the Speaker had called MGP legislator Sudin Dhavalikar, who had filed two similar petitions against two former MGP members Babu Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar. Accordingly, Dhavalikar withdrew one of his petitions.
In a similar manner, the Speaker wants some clarification from Congress president regarding his disqualification petition against 10 former Congress MLAs.
The Goa Assembly Speaker has completed his hearing in the last week of February and has reserved judgements on disqualification pleas. The Speaker has also informed the Supreme Court that due to complexity of cases he would not be able to decide the matters within one-day.
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