PANAJI
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Goa Legislative Assembly, constitutionally meant to function as a consensus-building forum for smooth conduct of House business, has increasingly come under fire for being reduced to a “mere formality”, with Opposition parties alleging that their concerns carry little or no weight in decisions chaired by the Speaker and dominated by the treasury bench.
Opposition MLAs argue that the very purpose of the BAC- to decide the duration of sessions, allocation of time for debates and prioritisation of issues- has been undermined, as key decisions are allegedly finalised even before meetings are convened.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has repeatedly pointed out that session dates, duration and broad agenda are often decided by the government in advance, leaving the BAC to simply endorse those decisions.
“The BAC is supposed to be a consultative body. Instead, it has become a procedural ritual where the Opposition is heard but never considered,” Alemao has stated, describing the process as a “mockery of democratic functioning”.
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Treasury bench dominance
At the heart of the controversy is the numerical and political dominance of the treasury bench in the BAC. Though chaired by the Speaker, the committee effectively mirrors the government’s will, with decisions being pushed through by majority rather than consensus. This has turned the BAC into an extension of the ruling dispensation, rather than a neutral forum balancing diverse legislative voices.
Repeated instances over the last two years have strengthened this perception. In July 2025, Opposition MLAs staged a walkout from a BAC meeting after the government imposed a 20-minute cap on speaking time during the crucial Demand for Grants discussion. The Opposition warned that such restrictions would prevent detailed scrutiny of departments and deny legislators the opportunity to raise deeper issues related to corruption, law and order and public welfare.
Despite strong objections, the time curbs were retained, reinforcing the Opposition’s claim that dissent within the BAC has no real impact on final decisions.
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Question Hour and ‘Ruling Hour’ allegations
Another flashpoint has been the conduct of Question Hour. Opposition MLAs alleged that the lottery system for selecting starred questions was biased in favour of ruling party legislators. They claimed this effectively sidelined Opposition questions, prompting the charge that Question Hour had been converted into a “Ruling Hour”.
These objections, too, were raised in the BAC but failed to translate into corrective measures, further fuelling resentment over what the Opposition calls “institutionalised imbalance”.
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Speaker’s role under scrutiny
The Speaker’s role as BAC chair has also come under scrutiny, particularly following the January 2026 session. The Opposition criticised the Speaker for declining discussions on urgent and sensitive local issues such as a fatal Birch nightclub fire and alleged environmental destruction, while allowing debates on topics they termed repetitive or less pressing, including a special discussion on “Vande Mataram”.
Opposition leaders argue that such decisions reflect skewed priorities and highlight how the treasury bench is able to steer the BAC agenda, even when pressing public interest matters demand immediate legislative attention.
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Growing discontent
Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai has been among the most vocal critics of the shrinking duration of Assembly sessions, a recurring outcome of BAC meetings. With some sessions lasting just four days, Sardesai has alleged that the government uses the BAC mechanism to compress legislative business and push through its agenda with minimal debate or oversight.
“There should be no misplaced priorities in BAC meetings. When the session itself is short, unnecessary topics should be avoided. There are far more pressing concerns like land-related issues and Goa’s special status, which are critical to protecting the State’s identity,” Sardesai has said.
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Opposition demands ignored
From repeated objections to curtailed debates, demands for longer sessions, calls for fair allocation of Question Hour time, and pleas to prioritise urgent local issues, the Opposition maintains that its inputs at BAC meetings have consistently been ignored. Walkouts have become a frequent form of protest, but they have done little to alter outcomes.
For the Opposition, the pattern is clear: the BAC, instead of acting as a democratic balancing mechanism, has been reduced to a forum where the treasury bench overpowers dissent and the Speaker’s chairmanship has failed to ensure neutrality and consensus.
