Will the INC 16 + NCP 3 + MGP 2 + Ind 1 total 22
combine succeed in passing a motion declaring their
nominee Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane INC MLA elec the
Speaker of the 5th Goa State Legislative Assembly? OR
Will the BJP nominees Mr Laximikant Parsekar MLA elect
Pernem ex BJP President or Mr Francisco D Souza MLA
elect Mapusa OR
Will the Independent MLA of Sanvordem Mr Anil
Salgaocar Mineowner and industrialist ( who earlier
extended support --via a letter-- to the INC combine
) and now yet another surprise nominee of the BJP for
the Speakers post ---win the motion declaring him the
Speaker and thus end the week long reign OR ensure a
continued governance of CM Mr Digamber Kamat INC MLA
Margao.
These are developments that took place today
afternoon at the Secretariat Porvorim at the end of
filing of nominations for the Speaker's post.
Earlier in the day in an interesting development Mr
Anil Salgaocar MLA elect of Sanvordem and a mine owner
appealed against an order of a trial court judge Mr S
Natekar to be present in person in court. Mr
Salgaocar MLA plea expressing his inability to be
present in person at a hearing of a case pending
against him, on grounds of exigencies of business and
old age 64 years, besides his physical disability
owing to an illness was turned down by the judge on
grounds that if he could travel abroad there was no
grounds to accept Mr Salgaocars contention that he
could not attend court in person.
Obviously this would mean that Mr Salgaocar an
industrialist mine owner and now MLA would create a
record of sorts being hauled up in the witness box and
this would not augur well to either his personality or
status for he is known in industrial circles to have
the "power to rock the establishment (read
government)"
Many believe that this development could be the reason
for his sudden volte face against the INC combine
government of CM Mr Digamber Kamat to whom he earlier
pledged his support.
The presence of an industrialist mine owner in the Goa
Assembly whose stakes in the removal of "River
Princess " over due since 20th April, 2007 has been a
dangling Damocles sword for successive Minister's of
Tourism in the state ever since it remained embedded
in the sea off the Candolim beach in North Goa Bardez
taluka will definitely dictate the political drama
before the government gets into the saddle for
governance.
Further with the exception of the UGDP 1 and Save Goa
2 all others viz NCP INC and BJP can merge (they need
two thirds of their present strenght in the House to
do so and support any combine for the Government that
will bring stability.
Thus will it be a "merger" two thirds of the 16 INC
MLA's with BJP MLA's or the smaller entities like
UGDP 1 SGF 2 Ind 1 OR two thirds of the 14 BJP
MLA's with the INC MLA's or with the two thirds of
the 3 NCP MLA's plus other splintered groups UGDP 1
SGF 2 MGP 2
Or will there be expulsions of members by their
respective parties which will render them as
"unattached" members in the House?
All eyes are on the two BJP MLA's of Canacona and
Poinguinim . There was also a furore created by the
visit of Mr A Lourenco Save Goa Front Curtorim MLA
elect to New Delhi. But the whip issued today has
averted any further damage. The Front has now gained a
recognised status of a State Party following over one
sixth votes polled. The UGDP MLA's status is now a
question of law for it does have MLA's who contested
on its party symbol "two leaves" in the newly carved
State of Jarkhand (a part of Bihar )
With this, tommorrow when the House meets to elect the
new Speaker of the Goa State Legislative Assembly at
1100 am MLA's of Goa could be creating yet another
record of sorts.
There is a general feeling in Goa that notwithstanding
the secular image the hotch potch combination may not
augur well for the present ruling dispensation and
therefore a combination that could give STABILITY
would be in the fitness of things given the pulls and
pressures one witnesses in a coalition of sorts.
The INC has its MLA elect in all Talukas except
Canacona ( both MLA's of its two costituencies belong
to the BJP ) and in Sanguem Taluka (one of two
Assembly constituencies belong to the BJP and another
to Independent MLA his support has now come to the
BJP) Therefore the INC could appoint Ministers so that
all talukas are looked after and the rest given
corporations. But not many INC combine MLA's believe
in "Supreme sacrifices" a la Ms Sonia Gandhi, hence
the unpredictable status of the present combine which
does not augur well for this tiny 25th State of Goa.
Friday the 15th June 11.00 a.m IST will spell all
that.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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