Guwahati: The Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Tawadkar on Sunday revoked the notice declaring elections for the position of Deputy Speaker.
This is in light of reports that certain Congress legislators are defecting to the dominant BJP.
Nominations were to be submitted by noon on July 11 in order for the election to take place on July 12.
The position of deputy speaker has been vacant since the resignation of social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai in April. He submitted his resignation before the Pramod Sawant administration expanded its cabinet.
The notification issued on July 8 according to Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly has been withdrawn, according to legislative secretary Namrata Ulman.
“Hence the notice of nomination for election of deputy speaker issued under 9(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly stands withdrawn also,” the order reads.
“All the Hon’ble members may note the same. No nomination shall be accepted for the aforesaid Election,” it adds.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar claimed that the ruling party was spreading rumours of a split in the Congress and that all of the state’s legislators were present and had rejected the idea of a split.