Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Sep 24: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday named Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar as its candidate for the Speaker’s post of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

Gaonkar, who served as pro-tem Speaker after the 2022 elections, filed his nomination papers before Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman at the Assembly Complex in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, cabinet ministers and several BJP legislators, turning the process into a show of strength by the treasury benches.

Backed by the BJP’s commanding 33-7 majority in the 40-member House, along with the support of three Independent MLAs, Gaonkar is widely expected to win Thursday’s special session vote.

Despite the numbers, the seven-member Opposition has decided to put up a fight, fielding Congress Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, who submitted his nomination nearly two weeks ago.

The Speaker’s election, which will be held on September 25, will take place by a show of hands, a practice introduced in 1995 after a chaotic secret-ballot contest between Tomazinho Cardozo and Surendra Sirsat forced the House to abort voting.