NEW DELHI: Goa assembly speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday dismissed a disqualification petition against eight Congress MLAs who joined the ruling BJP in 2022.
Congress had filed a disqualification petition before the speaker against its eight former MLAs who joined BJP in September 2022, including former leader of opposition Michael Lobo and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.
The other MLAs who switched over to BJP are Aleixo Sequeira (Nuvem), Rudolf Fernandes (Santa Cruz), Michael’s wife Delilah Lobo (Siolim), Sankalp Amonkar (Mormugao), Kedar Naik (Saligao), and Rajesh Faldessai (Cumbharjua).
Congress leader Dominic Joao Noronha had filed a petition in September 2022 seeking disqualification of eight legislators who switched to the BJP, alleging violation of the Constitution's tenth schedule.
In his petition, Noronha had requested the Speaker to prevent these legislators from participating in assembly activities and receiving benefits as members.
The February 2022 Goa assembly elections resulted in BJP winning 20 seats and Congress securing 11 seats out of the total 40 seats.
The eight legislators declared their merger with BJP on September 14, 2022, claiming to represent two-thirds of the Congress legislature party and sought constitutional protection under the tenth schedule.
In their defense before the Speaker, the eight legislators maintained they constituted two-thirds of Congress's total 11 elected members.
Currently, in the 40-member Goa assembly, BJP holds 29 seats, Congress 3, MGP and AAP 2 each, and GFP one, with three Independent legislators supporting BJP.
Congress had filed a disqualification petition before the speaker against its eight former MLAs who joined BJP in September 2022, including former leader of opposition Michael Lobo and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.
The other MLAs who switched over to BJP are Aleixo Sequeira (Nuvem), Rudolf Fernandes (Santa Cruz), Michael’s wife Delilah Lobo (Siolim), Sankalp Amonkar (Mormugao), Kedar Naik (Saligao), and Rajesh Faldessai (Cumbharjua).
Congress leader Dominic Joao Noronha had filed a petition in September 2022 seeking disqualification of eight legislators who switched to the BJP, alleging violation of the Constitution's tenth schedule.
In his petition, Noronha had requested the Speaker to prevent these legislators from participating in assembly activities and receiving benefits as members.
The February 2022 Goa assembly elections resulted in BJP winning 20 seats and Congress securing 11 seats out of the total 40 seats.
The eight legislators declared their merger with BJP on September 14, 2022, claiming to represent two-thirds of the Congress legislature party and sought constitutional protection under the tenth schedule.
In their defense before the Speaker, the eight legislators maintained they constituted two-thirds of Congress's total 11 elected members.
Currently, in the 40-member Goa assembly, BJP holds 29 seats, Congress 3, MGP and AAP 2 each, and GFP one, with three Independent legislators supporting BJP.
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