PANAJI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to nominate two-time Calangute MLA Michael Lobo for the post of the Deputy Speaker of the state legislative assembly.
The decision will make way for accommodating a BJP MLA from South Goa in the state cabinet.
The election to the post of Deputy Speaker will be held on March 24. Lobo will file his nomination on Thursday.
Lobo had been instrumental in getting support of the Goa Forward Party and other non-BJP MLAs for formation of BJP-led government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar, which made the Calangute MLA frontrunner for a ministerial berth.
Sources said the BJP leadership has decided to allot cabinet berth to former Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane, who resigned as a Congress MLA on March 16, and is likely to join the BJP to fight the bye-poll to Valpoi constituency.
It is understood that cabinet berth to a BJP MLA from South Goa has been considered wisely so as to keep balance of regional representation in the state cabinet.
This particular ministerial berth may go to either Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral or Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho.
The party will take a call on this later this week.