Shet elected Speaker; Monseratte couple absent
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 12 January 2016 14:01 IST
With Monseratte couple absent in the House, Mayem MLA Anant Shet was elected the second speaker of the ongoing Goa Assembly today by 28 versus 9 votes.
For the first time, two more independents – Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal voted against the ruling coalition.
Goa Vikas Party legislators Mickky Pacheco and Caitu Silva however proved that they are still with the ruling coalition, though Mickky had earlier expressed his views against the government.
Since Shet was elected the speaker with huge majority, the second motion of Congress MLA Alex Reginald Lourenco was not taken up for voting.
There was an attempt by the ruling coalition to avoid division vote but to stick to voice vote since the opposition benches uttered the word ‘division’ little late.
As per the rule, division needs to be asked while voice vote result is being announced.
At this, independent MLA Vijai Sardesai said they would demand proper ‘division’ when Lourenco’s motion is taken up for voting.
Former speaker and forest minister Rajendra Arlekar pointed out that the second motion of Lourenco becomes redundant with the first motion getting passed.
While accepting his contention, Pro Tem speaker Mauvin Godinho took up the division vote stating that he does not want unnecessary controversy.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and opposition leader Pratapsing Rane later escorted Shet to the speaker’s chair.
Shet is elected twice simultaneously from Mayem since 2007 as the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.
He was holding the deputy speaker’s post since 2012 and was the acting speaker after Arlekar resigned as the speaker to join the cabinet.
The break-up of voting was as follows:
In favour of Shet:
BJP -21, MGP – 3, GVP -2, Ind - 2 (Avertano Furtado & Benjamin Silva)
Against Shet:
Cong – 6, Ind – 3 (Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte & Naresh Sawal)
Absent:
Jennifer Monseratte (Cong), Babush Monseratte (Unattached)
