BJP, CONG TO FINALISEPANAJI: The BJP-led ruling coalition and the Opposition Congress have left it for the eleventh hour, to decide who will be their respective candidates for the crucial Speaker's post.
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>> Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said the choice of the treasury benches has not been finalised yet and a meeting of legislators as also alliance partners, including the Independents will be held on Monday morning to take a final decision
>> The Congress too has convened a meeting of its legislature party at 9.30 am on Monday. Opposition Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar told The Goan that a contest for the post is certain and there's no way it will be surrendered to the treasury benches without a fight
The election to fill the Speaker's vacancy is scheduled to be held at a one-day session of the Goa legislative assembly on Tuesday morning and candidates have to be nominated latest by 12 noon on Monday.
Both sides are slated to go into a huddle and hold crucial meetings to finalise their respective candidates and strategies for the election early Monday morning.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said the choice of the treasury benches has not been finalised yet and a meeting of legislators as also alliance partners, including the Independents will be held on Monday morning to take a final decision.The Congress too has convened a meeting of its legislature party at 9.30 am on Monday.
Opposition Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar told The Goan that a contest for the post is certain and there's no way it will be surrendered to the treasury benches without a fight.
The BJP has a strength of 17 and the ruling coalition it leads is buttressed by three legislators of Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai's Goa Forward Party and three Independents.
The Opposition Congress has 15 MLAs and can bank on support from one MLA each of the MGP and NCP.
The Speaker's election in the Goa legislative assembly is conducted by passing motions in favour of a particular candidate by voice-vote and a division if necessary after rules were changed in mid-1990s to do away with a secret ballot election.Meanwhile BJP sources said, the party's Bicholim MLA, Rajesh Patnekar will most likely be the choice from the ruling side and in all probability be elected. The name of Shiroda MLA Subhash Shirodkar, a veteran sixth term MLA and Pravin Zantye had also come up for consideration but the duo are unlikely to make the cut.
The Speaker, although technically neutral, is a crucial cog in the State's power play. The position, vacant since Sawant quit to take over the reigns after Manohar Parrikar's death, is being filled in by Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo.
