PANAJI
Raising strong objections to the curtailed Budget Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, the Opposition MLAs have decided to write to Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar seeking an extension of the Session, which is set to commence from March 6.
The 14-day-long Session will conclude on March 27. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is set to table the State Budget 2026-27 on the very first day of the Session on March 6.
The decision was taken at a meeting of Opposition legislators held at the Assembly Complex in Porvorim on Tuesday. Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, Goa Forward MLA Vijai Sardesai, Congress MLAs Carlos Ferreira and Altone D’Costa, Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar, and Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva were present at the meeting.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Alemao said that the Budget Session has to be a minimum of 15 days and a maximum of 21 days.
Alemao said the reduced duration of the Assembly session would severely limit discussion on important public issues, including environmental destruction, law and order, mismanaged state finances, etc.
He said the Assembly is a crucial democratic platform and curtailing its sittings undermines legislative scrutiny and accountability. Alemao said that the Opposition has decided to formally write to the Speaker requesting reconsideration of the decision and urging that the session be extended to allow meaningful deliberation.
A separate communication will also be sent to the Governor, highlighting the Opposition’s concerns and seeking intervention in the interest of democratic functioning.
