NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Reacting strongly to the demands of the opposition to revoke the appointment of Panaji MLA as Pro tem Speaker for not being the senior-most member of the House for the position, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Thursday said that a Pro tem Speaker only requires experience of legislature and not seniority.
He substantiated his claim with past assembly record and said that pro tem speakers were appointed based on other parameters and not seniority.
On Wednesday, Panaji MLA Sidharth Kunkalienkar was sworn in as the Pro tem Speaker for the floor test and to administer oath to the new legislators as well as to conduct proceedings till new Speaker is elected.
“In the year 1999, when the then Taleigao MLA Somanth Juwarkar was sworn in as the Pro tem Speaker, he was not the senior-most legislator. Similarly, in the recent past, Mahadev Naik was also appointed as the Pro tem Speaker though he was not the senior-most member,” Parrikar said, observing that to be eligible for the Speaker’s post, one has to be a member of the legislative assembly and not the senior-most member of the House.
“If a MLA can become a Speaker, then why can’t he be eligible for Pro tem Speaker’s post,” he questioned.
Commenting on the other demand of the opposition for holding a secret ballot to decide the floor test, the Chief Minister said, “Congress leaders don’t have knowledge about parliamentary affairs. If we had gone for secret ballot, the result would have very much embarrassed them. However, we won the crucial floor test and the Speaker made us stand and the count was clear,” Parrikar said.
