39 Newly-elected MLAs in Goa took oath as members of the legislative assembly on Tuesday.
Gomantak Times
All the newly-elected MLAs in Goa took oath as members of the legislative assembly on Tuesday.
The MLAs were administered the oath of office and secrecy by BJP MLA Ganesh Goankar, who was on Monday sworn in as the protem speaker of the assembly.
Caretaker Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, newly elected MLAs Venzy Viegas, Cruz Silva, Viresh Borkar, two former chief minister DIgambar Kamat, Ravi naik took oath today.
The MLAs took the oath in language of their choice Konkani, Marathi or English.
The term of the outgoing assembly is expired on March 15.
Pramod Sawant on Sunday submitted his resignation letter as Chief Minister to Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, who asked him to continue in his office until the new government takes charge.
There is no confirmation yet as to when the next Chief Minister would be chosen, or when the new BJP-led government would assume office. However, Goa BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said the new government in Goa will be sworn in after Holi, which falls on March 18, along with the three other states where BJP returned to power.
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, senior Congress leader Digambar Kamat claimed this was the first time in the history of the state that the MLAs were sworn in without a government in place.
Earlier, before the oath ceremony, two MLAs reached the Assembly building on two-wheelers. Revolutionary Goans party leader Viresh Borkar, who won the election from St Andre Assembly seat in South Goa district, came riding pillion on a motorcycle with his mentor and his party head Manoj Parab.
Besides, Antonio Vas, who won as an independent from Cortalim Assembly seat in South Goa, arrived in the Assembly building on a scooter. Vas said he preferred riding the two-wheeler to avoid traffic jam on the Zuari river bridge and reach the Assembly on time
In the recently concluded elections, Congress managed to win 11 seats and its ally Goa Forward Party secured one seat, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party by bagging 20 seats, one short of the majority mark, but it is yet to stake claim to form government.
Elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly were held on February 14 and the results were declared last week.