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 fielding candidate for the post.
The three-day long
Budget session has been summoned from March 22, with Chief Minister Manohar
Parrikar to present the financial statement for 2017-18 on March 24. Goa
Governor Mridul 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
before the State Legislative Assembly secretary.
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.
