BJP legislator Vishnu Surya Wagh was today elected the Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Wagh got 26 votes, defeating his rival, Pandurang Madkaikar of Congress who could secure only 10 votes.
Congress had issued whip to its members ahead of the election.
Minutes before the election, Leader of Opposition,, Pratapsingh Rane suggested that the ruling party should allow the opposition benches the deputy speaker's post as envisaged in the democracy.
"There is a tradition to have deputy speaker from the Opposition. I would request the House to keep up the tradition for posterity so that our House always function in a manner which is fit for any of the leading democracy," Rane said.
"We always had cordial relation between opposition and ruling members. I suggest that this tradition of having deputy speaker from opposition should also considered," he added.
Responding to Rane's contention, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the tradition could have been upheld if the opposition had allowed the ruling benches to elect Speaker unanimously.
Election for the Speaker's post was held on January 12 during the ongoing winter session. Anant Shet was elected as the Speaker after he defeated Congress candidate Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
"We do understand traditions in the democracy. If this had to happen from election of Speaker, then we would have thought. We should have unanimously elected the Speaker. Speaker has already been elected through election," Parsekar said.
