PANJIM: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar was elected Speaker of the 8th Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
Tawadkar, a former minister defeated his Congress rival Aleixo Sequeira by 24 votes to 15.
Tawadkar’s name was proposed by Minister Subhash Shirodkar and was seconded by Curtorim Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
Sequeira’s nomination was proposed by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and seconded by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. MLAs from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Goa Forward Party and Revolutionary Goans Party backed him.
Tawadkar, the leader of the BJP’s Scheduled Tribes (ST) Morcha, was backed by legislators of his party, two of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independents supporting the government.
Tawadkar had earlier served as minister for agriculture, sports and tribal affairs between 2012 and 2017. He was first elected as MLA in by-poll in 2005 from erstwhile Poinguinim constituency.
Pro-tem Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar presided over the election process.
The House unanimously congratulated Tawadkar on his election. The motion congratulating him was moved by the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
Tawadkar said he considers himself fortunate that he has received the cooperation of many people to bring about a change for Goa’s tribal community and to address the issues faced by the backward class.
“The members who have backed me and praised me, have honoured not only me and my family but my community and the people of the constituency as well,” Tawadkar said.
The new Speaker assured the Opposition benches of cooperation and ensuring that justice is given to all. “Let’s us all work to protect Goa and towards its upliftment,” he said. His assurance came after Opposition requested him to act as a neutral Speaker.
Congratulating Tawadkar, Congress nominee Sequeira said that he accepts defeat. “In all humility, I accept my defeat. I am happy that you have become the Speaker of the Assembly. I know you as a great leader and your biggest quality has been your humanity.”
While moving the motion, the Chief Minister recalled memories with Tawadkar since 1999. “I know you as a human being, as a MLA, as a Minister and now a Speaker. You are an example and role model to our youth, especially for the tribal community,” he said. Sawant lauded Tawadkar’s efforts in the field of education and culture.
MGP leader Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar described Tawadkar as the ‘Bhumiputra (son of the soil)’.
Independent MLAs, GFP MLA and AAP legislators also supported the motion.
Meanwhile, Sanguem BJP MLA Subhash Phaldesai, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik of Congress and Curtorim Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco filed their nominations for the post of the Deputy Speaker, the election for which is slated for Wednesday.
Phaldesai filed two sets of nomination papers, one proposed by Vasco MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar and seconded by Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and second nomination proposed by Premendra Shet and seconded by Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar.
Saligao MLA Kedar Naik has also filed two sets of nominations, one nomination proposed by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and seconded by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo while, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar and Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Faldesai have proposed and seconded the other nomination.
The nomination of Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has been proposed and seconded by BJP MLAs Premendra Shet and Ulhas Tuenkar respectively.
