PANJIM: Ahead of swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected members of the Goa Legislative Assembly, BJP Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar was on Monday sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker of the House.
Gaonkar, a second-term BJP MLA, was sworn in by Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai, who also administered him the oath of secrecy as the legislative member.
Gaonkar will officiate as the acting Speaker and administer oath to the newly elected legislators on Tuesday and will also facilitate the election of the Speaker of the State assembly.
The current tenure of the State Assembly, which stands dissolved, actually ends on March 15.
The Governor has already convened the new Assembly session on Tuesday at 11.30 am for the purpose of administering the oath or affirmation to the newly elected members.
The BJP won 20 seats in the February 14 State assembly polls emerging as the single largest party, one short of a majority.
The party, however, has received letters of unconditional support from three independent MLAs and the two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislators, which could potentially take the strength of the treasury benches to 25 in the 40-member state legislative assembly.
In the House, Congress will have its 11 MLAs while Goa Forward Party (GFP) will have one. Aam Aadmi Party with its two legislators and Revolutionary Goans party with its one MLA have made their maiden entry into the State Assembly.
