Panaji: Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday fielded its MLA Ganesh Gaonkar for the post of Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, the elections for which are scheduled to be held on September 25.
The 66-year-old MLA from Sanvordem Assembly constituency filed his nomination for the post on Tuesday before Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant along with several other ministers was present when Gaonkar filed the nomination on Tuesday.
The post of Speaker had fallen vacant after Ramesh Tawadkar resigned from it, ahead of his induction in Pramod Sawant-led cabinet.
Gaonkar told reporters that he enjoys support of all the 33 MLAs who are supporting Sawant-led government. BJP has its 28 MLAs while two from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and three Independents are supporting the government.
The MLA who is currently holding the post of Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation resigned from it on Tuesday morning before filing the nomination.
The opposition parties including Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward Party and Revolutionary Goans party has fielded Altone D’Costa as their candidate. D’Costa is a Congress MLA from Quepem Assembly constituency.
D’Costa has a support of seven MLAs from the opposition in 40-seat House.
Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju has summoned special session of Goa legislative assembly on September 25 to elect the new Speaker.
