PANJIM: Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar waited in his chamber the whole day on Sunday for the Congress MLAs to turn up.
As there were rumours that either eight Congress legislators constituting two-thirds of the party’s strength in the Legislature or at least five Congress MLAs would resign as MLAs, the Speaker arrived in the Goa Assembly Complex, Porvorim at around 11 am.
Secretary (Legislature) Namrata Ulman and other staff were also present in the office on Sunday.
Tawadkar was seen waiting in his chamber throughout the day for rebel Congress MLAs to turn up either to submit their resignations or to receive a letter from them stating that they constitute two-third members to avoid disqualification under the Anti-Defection Act.
In the BJP regime, most of the resignation or defections of MLAs have happened in dead of night. It may be recalled that in March 2019, the current Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo was the acting Speaker when two MLAs engineered two-third split and merged into the BJP past midnight.
It was second such development after the swearing of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his Cabinet ministers who were sworn-in at 2 am on March 19, 2019.
Withdraws notification declaring polls for Dy Speaker’s post
Amidst political turmoil with speculations rife on some Congress MLAs’ defection to the BJP on Sunday, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Sunday withdrew the notification announcing elections for the post of the Deputy Speaker.
The order came around noon when the news was abuzz about some Congress MLAs expected to reach the Goa Assembly.
expected to reach the Goa Assembly Complex, Porvorim to submit their resignation before switching their loyalty to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Deputy Speaker’s election was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 12, the second day of the 10-day Monsoon Session of the State Legislative Assembly commencing from Monday, July 11. The Deputy Speaker’s post fell vacant after Subhash Phaldesai quit and was sworn-in as the Cabinet Minister on April 9.
Secretary (Legislature) Namrata Ulman, in an order issued stated that the notification issued on July 8 under Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly stands withdrawn. “Hence the notice of nomination for election of Deputy Speaker issued under 9 (2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly stands withdrawn also. All the Hon’ble members may note the same. No nomination shall be accepted for the aforesaid election,” reads the order.
According to reliable sources, if the eight Congress MLAs switch over to the BJP, one of them will be nominated for the Deputy Speaker’s post. It was for this reason that the notification was withdrawn.
