Team Herald
PANJIM: The decision on the disqualification petition filed by former Congress president Girish Chodankar against eight rebel Congress MLAs who defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to be pronounced by Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, soon.
The Speaker on Friday heard final arguments on the disqualification petition and asked all the parties to submit their written arguments by Monday. It may be noted that the Supreme Court had asked the Speaker to decide the petitions before November 4.
Last month, the Supreme Court had asked the Goa Assembly Speaker to fulfil his constitutional obligation, while deciding disqualification petitions against eight MLAs, by the next date of hearing i.e. in the week commencing from November 4.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, Adv Abhijit Gosavi claimed that in terms of Para 4 of the Tenth Schedule, twin test is required to be complied, i.e. firstly, there should be a merger to original political party with another political party and secondly two-third of the members of the legislature party concerned should agree to such merger.
In the rejoinder, Adv Gosavi also brought to the notice of the Speaker that eight MLAs were elected on Congress symbol and presently shown affiliated to BJP, thus clearly showing all eight respondents had voluntarily given up membership of their original political party and consequently incurred disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of Constitution.
Adv Gosavi has attached a copy of an order issued by the Speaker dated September 14, 2022, in this regard.