Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jan 12: The five-day winter session of the Goa Legislative Assembly commenced on Monday, January 12 at 11.30 am, with Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju delivering his maiden address to the House. The session will conclude on Friday, January 16, and will have five sittings.

From Tuesday onwards, the House is scheduled to take up supplementary demands for grants, government bills and discussions on key issues. The final day of the session has been earmarked for five Private Members’ Resolutions, giving legislators an opportunity to raise matters outside the government’s agenda.

However, the session has begun on a tense note after Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar disallowed special discussions on several “burning issues”. This prompted the joint Opposition to announce an aggressive strategy, particularly during Question Hour and through other parliamentary procedures.

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said the Opposition, though numerically small, was prepared to corner the government on governance failures, corruption and policy lapses. “We have discussed and worked out our strategy, and it will be delivered on the floor of the House. They will be cornered on all four days,” said Alemao, the Congress MLA from Cuncolim.

Issues likely to dominate the proceedings include the tragic Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire, coal pollution, unemployment, alleged irregularities in the Town and Country Planning department and concerns related to the health sector. Alemao said these matters would be repeatedly raised to ensure public welfare remains central to the debate.

AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said the Opposition would function as a united force despite political differences. “We are going to work as a united Opposition in the Assembly despite our differences on the political front,” he said.

Viegas also referred to recent observations by former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Ferdino Rebello on systemic governance failures in Goa. He said issues such as administrative breakdown, corruption, job scams, lack of employment opportunities and poor budget utilisation — with only about 45 per cent of funds reportedly spent — would be highlighted during the session.

With special debates curtailed, Question Hour is expected to emerge as the main battleground between the treasury benches and the Opposition. While the ruling side is likely to stress legislative progress and policy initiatives, the winter session is set to witness sharp political exchanges and heightened confrontation at the start of the year.