PANAJI
The Opposition Congress is all set to take on the BJP government at the five-day Session of Goa Assembly, which begins on Monday.
The Assembly session will begin with Governor Mridula Sinha's address. The Speaker will be elected on January 12, while the election of deputy speaker will be held on January 14. Though there is a clear majority for the BJP government, it is expected that the Opposition will contest the elections.
Mayem MLA Anant Shet is set to be elevated to the post of Speaker, while St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh is tipped for the Deputy Speaker's post.
According to sources, the Congress High Command has asked the Goa Congress Legislative Party to go on the offensive and take up issues. The independent MLAs are, however, holding their cards close to their chest. It would be interesting to see how they go about business inside the House.
Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco returns to the House after missing out on the previous session as he was in jail. He has taken occasional potshots at the government, but attention will veer around the GVP supremo on how he places himself against the ruling government.
The Session will be held from January 11 to 15. The tenure of this Assembly will get over in March 2017.
Meanwhile, former minister and Congress leader Ramakant Khalap will sit on a 'Dharna' on January 11 in protest against stopping grants to his Mandrem Vikas Parishad College.
“Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has stopped grants due to political rivalry,” Khalap alleged.
