Team Herald
PANJIM: Dr Pramod Sawant, is set to be elected the next Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after filing nomination as the coalition candidate.
The election for the post of State Legislative Assembly Speaker will be held on Wednesday, wherein both BJP-led coalition and Congress have fielded candidates for the post.
The three-day Budget session has been summoned on March 22. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will present the financial statement for 2017-18 on March 24. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha will deliver her opening address to the House on March 23.
The BJP and its allies have fielded Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant, the Congress has nominated Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco for the post. Both have filed their nominations.
While BJP has received backing from alliance partners like MGP, Goa Forward and Independents for their candidate, Congress will also approach independent MLAs and NCP legislator Churchill Alemao for the support.
“BJP and all the alliance partners have decided and nominated Sawant for the post of Speaker. He has support of majority of the legislators and the same would be proven on the Floor of the House on Wednesday,” BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral said.
BJP has currently 23 MLAs supporting them — as per the trust vote on the floor of the house — this include 13 from their party, three each from MGP, Goa Forward and Independent and one NCP.
On the other hand, Congress, which has only 16 MLAs, is confident of winning the elections. The Congress legislative wing (CLP), which held its meeting on Tuesday, unanimously resolved to field Lourenco for the post.
“People had given us the mandate, but BJP, rather than accepting people verdict, went against the same and formed government,” CLP leader Chandrakant Kavalekar said.
“We will contact Churchill Alemao and will also approach Independent MLAs for their support,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bicholim BJP’s MLA Rajesh Patnekar and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha are in fray for the deputy speaker post, while Congress may not demand for it.
