the goan I network
PANAJI
Rajesh Patnekar from the BJP camp was on Tuesday elected the Speaker of the Goa Assembly. The Bicholim MLA defeated former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane of the Congress by 22 votes to 16 in the 40-member House. Lone Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao abstained from voting while Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, who has still not withdrawn his support to the BJP-led coalition government despite acute differences, cast his vote in favour of Rane. The election process was conducted by Acting Speaker Michael Lobo.
Patnekar while addressing the House after being elected said he would try his best to be impartial in carrying out his duties as the Speaker of the House.
Patnekar recalled the memories of late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the assembly and said the House would miss him.
“I cannot forget Parrikar. His contribution to the House and Goa cannot be forgotten and will be remembered for years to come. Both the ruling as well as opposition benches enjoyed a lot under his leadership,”
Patnekar said.
Patnekar advised MLAs not to leave the House while the Assembly was in session. “Try to watch, try to study. Make sure the House does not remain empty,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rane who lost the contest in a straight fight, congratulated Patnekar on his victory.
“I congratulate you on winning. A Speaker has to be neutral. You will be judged by the decisions of the House,” Rane said.
The election was necessitated after Speaker Pramod Sawant was appointed the Chief Minister following Parrikar’s death.
The election of Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly has two interesting things. This is the first-ever defeat of Pratapinsh Rane in his entire political career of nearly 50 years and his son and BJP Minister Vishwajit Rane had to vote against him.
It is said that Congress mounted pressure on senior Rane to contest for the speaker post while they were fully aware that Congress has no majority with them.
Opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar told reporters that the Congress wanted to send a message that it was very serious about the election for the post of Speaker and that Pratapsing Rane was best bet for
Speaker’s post.
