PANJIM: A day after Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao merged Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) legislative wing with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), the NCP on Tuesday filed a petition before Goa Assembly Speaker seeking disqualification of the legislator.
NCP State president Jose Philip D’Souza filed a petition before Speaker Rajesh Patnekar, stating that Alemao’s action calls for disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
“..the fact that Churchill Alemao, the member elected to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa as an official candidate of the NCP has, in fact, by his act, namely the claim of his having merged his original legislature party, namely NCP, with the TMC has incurred disqualification under the procedure of the Tenth Schedule, namely Para 2 (a),” D’Souza stated in the plea.
D’Souza said, “As a fact, the legislature party in relation of a member of House relating to any political party in accordance with the provisions of Para 2 of 4 means the group consisting of all members of that House for the time being belonging to that political party in accordance with the same provisions.”
“Apparently, Churchill Alemao has filed the said letter before you to claim non-application of provisions of Para 2 of the Tenth Schedule. As it is in law the action claimed under the letter dated December 13, 2021 cannot constitute merger within the meaning of Para 4 of the Tenth Schedule,” the petition said.
According to D’Souza, the party Alemao is claiming to have merged with TMC that does not have any MLA of their own in the Goa Assembly. “Then whom is he merging with,” asked D’Souza.
He has urged the Speaker to take necessary action in the matter. “Alemao’s decision is illegal and Speaker cannot protect the undemocratic move,” he said.
D’Souza could not meet the Speaker as he was out of station. The petition was submitted to his office and the NCP leaders will meet the Speaker on Wednesday, he added.
