Team Herald
PANJIM: BJP-led coalition candidate MLA Rajesh Patnekar and Congress MLA Pratapsing Rane on Monday filed their nominations for the post of Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker, the elections for which will be held on Tuesday.
Goa Governor, Mridula Sinha has summoned a day-long Assembly Session on June 4 at 11.30 am to elect new Speaker, the post which had fallen vacant after Dr Pramod Sawant resigned to take over as the Chief Minister.
BJP had to scout for a new candidate after Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, who is officiating as the Speaker, refused to take over the responsibility of a full-time speaker claiming that it would curb his freedom to take up issues of public interest.
BJP and its coalition partner Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLAs on Monday morning held a meeting to shortlist the name for Speaker.
Bicholim MLA Patnekar’s name was shortlisted.
Patnekar was accompanied by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Deputy Chief Ministers Vijai Sardesai and Manohar Ajgaonkar and others when he filed his nomination before the Legislature Secretary. One nomination paper is proposed by Mapusa BJP MLA Joshua D’Souza and seconded by BJP Mayem MLA Pravin Zantye. Another nomination is proposed by Sardesai and seconded by BJP Shiroda MLA Subhash Shirodkar.
“We are confident of winning the election for the post of Speaker as we have 23 MLAs on our side including those from Goa Forward Party and Independents,” Sawant told reporters.
He said that BJP has 17 MLAs while three each are from Goa Forward Party and the Independents. “MGP is still part of the government as it has not withdrawn the support. But it is upto Sudin Dhavalikar whom he wants to support,” Sawant said.
Sawant said that Patnekar was unanimous choice of all the MLAs including the coalition partners.
Independent MLA and Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte was not present for the meeting as he had gone for a funeral, while Tribal Minister Govind Gawade and Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar were on their way, when the nomination was filed.
Opposition Congress party, on the other hand, has fielded Rane, one of the senior most MLA, as its candidate for the post. Rane has served as Speaker in the past.
“Considering his past experience as Speaker and his impeccable track record as MLA, Rane has been the most suitable candidate for this post. We will appeal all the MLAs, including those from ruling side to vote for him,” Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said.
When asked Rane senior whether he would urge his son Health Minister Vishwajit to vote for him, Rane said “I will request all the Opposition against us to vote for me,” he commented.
The Poriem MLA stated that in next two years he would be completing 50 years as legislator and in his entire career, he has never lost any election. “I am confident of winning Speaker election too. We are reaching out to independents for their support,” he admitted.
