Panaji: The Congress legislators staged a walkout on the second day of the Assembly’s Budget Session on Thursday, condemning Governor Mridula Sinha’s decision to not invite the party to form a government, even after it had emerged as the single largest party in the recent elections.
All 16 MLAs of the Congress were wearing black armbands as a mark of protest. When the Governor began her customary address to the members of the Assembly, Congress Legislative Party leader Babu Kavlekar stood up and said Ms. Sinha’s decision to invite the BJP to form a government, despite the party coming second in the elections with 13 MLAs in the 40-member House, was against the spirit of the constitution, and also a condemnable act. Some of the Congress’s MLAs backed Mr. Kavlekar and staged a walkout.
However, the Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao remained seated during the walkout. Mr. Alemaon has been served a show-cause notice by his party for backing the BJP-led coalition government in the confidence motion in the House last week.
In her address, the governor said that her government was committed to eliminating open defacation in Goa by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mopa airport
Ms. Sinha said the Greenfield international airport project at Mopa, North Goa, will have a potential of 28 million passengers per annum. She said the government will also ensure that the Dabolim airport remain functional for civilians.
