From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 21: The opposition benches Wednesday March 20 stalled the State Legislative Assembly protesting against the postponement of the election for the post of mayor of Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP).

Congress members including former minister Atanasio Monserratte, legislators Aleixo Lourenco Reginaldo, Jeniffer Moserratte, Pandurang Madkaikar and independent legislator Vijay Sardesai rushed to the well of the House when question hour began for the day.

The legislators were protesting against the last minute cancellation of the elections for the post of Mayor of CCP by the state government. Reginaldo, who led the group to the well of the House, demanded that the elections be ordered immediately.

The issue was initially raised by leader of opposition Pratap Singh Rane who termed state government’s action as undemocratic. He demanded that the state government should withdraw its order postponing the election.

CCP has a majority of BJP corporators on it, when the elections were held a year back. The elections scheduled today had feared to dethrone sitting BJP-supported Mayor Vaidehi Naik.

The congress camp had corporator Surendra Furtado contesting for the post.

Speaker of Legislative assembly Rajendra Arlekar asked the congress members to take their seats so that he can give the ruling in the matter.

As the noise continued, the House was adjourned for ten minutes.

When the house reassembled, the opposition members continued their protests in the well of the House. The group of opposition members was joined by two of their party colleagues – Vishwajit Rane and Chandrakant Kavlekar.

Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane and former chief minister Digambar Kamat remained standing next to their seats but did not join the party colleagues in the well.

The speaker, notwithstanding the protests, continued the question hour, while opposition legislators continued the protests.