Panaji: CWC Member and Former GPCC President Girish Chodankar said that he has serious concerns that the Speaker’s impending order may disregard the principles of truth and the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, given his handling of his petition over the past two years. The Speaker delayed hearings for two years, forcing him to seek intervention from the High Court and Supreme Court just to secure a hearing. His actions seem intentional, aiming to obstruct his ability to contest his decision in the Supreme Court, said Chodankar.
Chodankar further stated that it’s crucial to note that merging political parties falls under the Election Commission of India’s jurisdiction, not the Speaker’s. The Speaker’s role as a tribunal is limited to addressing disqualification petitions against defecting MLAs. In a five-year assembly term, two precious years have been lost.
Girish Chodankar expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will ultimately decide on this matter and disqualify the eight defecting MLAs in Goa, bringing closure to this prolonged issue. Recent developments indicate that the Speaker has finally heard the disqualification petition, and a decision is expected on 1st November 2024, said Chodankar.
