Summon a session or dissolve the Assembly: Cong to Gov
Congress top leaders Pratapsing Rane and Luizinho Faleiro on Friday called upon the Governor of Goa to either summon a session of the House within six months of the conclusion of the previous session or to dissolve the legislative Assembly thereby upholding the spirit of the Constitution.
Speaking at Congress House, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro stated, “Constitution is very clear. Article 174 mandates the governor to call session within six months of the previous one. The word is ‘shall’ not ‘may’. It is now up to the governor, who is the custodian of the Constitution, to ensure that rule of law is implemented.”
Congress demanded the governor to uphold constitutional mandate and not act as a ‘rubber stamp of the government’ with Faleiro insisting that the governor should either summon the House or dissolve the Assembly.
“The government can’t take shelter under election code of conduct. It is well settled that when the chief minister does not recommend the summoning of the House, it is the duty of the Governor to fulfill the Constitutional mandate,” the Congress president stated.
Leader of Opposition Rane seconded this and called for dissolution of the House and institute a caretaker government or imposition of President’s Rule.
“If they call for a session of the Assembly at this juncture after the polls have been conducted, I fear that the session might not represent the will and mandate of the people. Call a session or dissolve it. There is no other alternative,” Rane said adding that the Election Commission, which finalized the polling and results dates one month apart, probably expected the government to take these steps.
Meanwhile, Rane also expressed anguish at the continued registration of postal ballots. Informing that he has brought it to the notice of the Collector, he stated, “ It is strange the postal ballots of government servants on election duty are being allowed to be registered for as long as a month from the date of polling. I suspect tampering of votes. Four to five days was more than enough.”
Congress president Faleiro termed the ban on liquor outlets along national and state highways as ‘irresponsible’ and condemned the move. “The decision will hit tourism in Goa. Goa is not Haryana and the livelihood of people is at stake here. What was the government doing for a month after the Court decision? It should have appointed a committee immediately,” Faleiro stated.
