PANAJI
The newly-elected representatives were on Tuesday formerly inducted as legislators of the Legislative Assembly.
Pro-tem Speaker and Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar administered the oath to 39 newly elected MLAs during a one-day session convened for the purpose.
Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai had summoned the session after administering the oath to Gaonkar as Pro-tem Speaker.
While 17 of the MLAs took their oath in English, 15 MLAs took their oath in Konkani and 7 MLAs opted for Marathi.
With the BJP having delayed formation of the government, the MLAs have been sworn in before the formation of the government and the swearing in of ministers.
BJP Goa State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade has said the BJP would form the government after Holi.
Incidentally, two MLAs Viresh Borkar (RGP) and independent candidate of Cortalim Antonio Vas arrived by two-wheelers to the Assembly.
RGP supremo Manoj Parab and Viresh Borkar came riding an Enfield Bullet to the assembly. As Viresh Borkar is the first RGP MLA to enter the legislative assembly, he and Manoj Parab prayed by bowing before the Lion Pillar of the assembly before entering the hall.
Borkar insisted that his party is not a vote splitter but is emerging as a force in the State.
"We are here to save Goa. If we were a spoiler, then we would not have been the third largest party in the first attempt. Other political parties now fear RGP as they feel their existence is in danger. They fear that in the next election we will be a hurdle for them,” said Borkar.
Borkar said issues pertaining to the grass roots will be raised by him in the assembly as he has a huge responsibility to raise issues for the State, constituency and on behalf of his party.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Digambar Kamat said this has been the first time in the history of Goa that MLAs are being sworn in without a government in place.
“I do not know if the Constitution has such a provision,” said Kamat.
