NT NETWORK
PANAJI
BJP MLA Michael Lobo was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the state legislative assembly on Friday.
The two-time Calangute MLA defeated the rival candidate from the Congress Isidore Fernandes by 21-15 votes. The voting to elect the Deputy Speaker was held on the third and final day of the budget session.
Congress MLA Francisco Silveira reached late for the voting whereas the lone NCP MLA Churchill Alemao did not participate in the process. Congratulating Lobo, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that it was a reward to the Calangute MLA for his work as a legislator in the last five years.
Parrikar hoped that Lobo would continue keeping up his energetic spirit in the next five years.
Opposition leader Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar, PWD Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, MGP MLA Deepak Pauskar and Alemao also congratulated Lobo for being elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House.
Speaking on the occasion, Lobo said that he has been an admirer of Parrikar’s leadership adding that it was Parrikar who inspired him to join the BJP.
He appealed to all the MLAs to work together for resolving all issues.