PANAJI
“Siddharth Kuncalienkar who was earlier the Joint Secretary to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, his political assistant and a former office bearer in the party has been made pro-tem speaker. When his boss is seeking a vote of confidence can we expect him to be fair in the conduct of proceedings,” Chodankar said at a press conference adding that the entire state was in doubt over whether the process will be fair.
Chodankar said that the pro-tem speaker is often referred to as the father of the house as he is often the senior most member. “The Goa Legislature Secretariat needs to hand out a list of the members including their details of the incumbent MLAs including their date of births. Today, he has been appointed without even preparing such a list. It is established practice that the senior most member is appointed as protem speaker,” Chodankar said hinting at lack of procedural prowess of the current government.
CLP leader Chandrakant Kavlekar has written to the Goa Governor asking her to retract her decision, but it is as yet unclear what action the Congress will take if the Governor, as expected, does not retract her decision to appoint Kuncalienkar as the pro-tem speaker.
“We have faith in the Governor’s office that she as the custodian of the constitution will uphold the constitution. Any decision on what action we have to take will be taken tomorrow after giving sufficient time for the Governor to act,” Chodankar said.
Chodankar accused the BJP of consistently subverting the law, undermining the constitution and abusing process ‘just because they can.’
