PANJIM: A two-day session of the newly-constituted Goa Legislative Assembly has been convened from March 29, a day after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his cabinet colleagues take oath of office.
The session will begin with the election of the Speaker followed by the customary address by Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, it being the first session after the Assembly polls and also the first session of the year.
On March 30, the Sawant-led government is likely to seek a trust vote to prove its majority. The government claims a majority with the support of 25 MLAs – 20 of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), three Independents and two of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).
The Chief Minister will also present the State Budget for the financial year 2022-2023 and seek a Vote on Account for the first four months of the new fiscal year.
Secretary (Legislature) Namrata Ulman on Thursday said on the first day there will be election of the Speaker followed by the Governor’s address to the new Assembly. It will be followed by tabling of copy of the address of the Governor and there will also be nomination of members on the panel of presiding members for the year 2022-2023.
The Chief Minister will also move a motion for suspension of rules and to resolve that in this session, only government business be transacted and no other business, whatsoever, including questions, calling attentions and any other business be initiated by a Private Member be brought before or transacted in the House.
The Speaker will make obituary references on the demise of distinguished personalities including former Minister Luis Alex Cardoso and former MLA Teotonio Pereira, apart from congratulating Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awardees including former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar, who was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously.
On the second day, the Chief Minister will present Supplementary Demands for Grants and its connected Goa Appropriation Bill. The Budget for the year 2022-2023 will be presented and a Vote on Account sought. Also there will be nomination of Members on Business Advisory Committee (BAC).
When contacted, Chief Secretary Punit Kumar Goel said no decision has been taken on Budget presentation so far.
