Panaji, Dec 31 (TOI): The BJP's which expect to receive some brickbats in the winter session of Goa Legislative Assembly that starts on January 11, 2016 is preparing to combat opposition moves.

The BJP's St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh and Benaulim MLA Caetano Caitu Silva each proposed private member's bills seeking amendments to the Official Language Act. On Wednesday, Wagh served a notice to the state Legislative Assembly secretary proposing official status for Marathi and Konkani in the Roman script in the Official Language Act. Goa Vikas Party Silva also proposed a separate private member's bill seeking official status for Konkani written in the Roman script.

At a time when the medium of instruction issue is being debated, any further division on language issue could place it into a tight spot.

Political pundits suggest that the amendments sought by Wagh and Silva were aimed at neutralizing Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal who has reportedly also moved a private members' bill seeking official status for Marathi on par with Konkani.

Sawal's proposal had put BJP in an awkward position as its Christian MLAs will not endorse the bill though some BJP's MLA will have no problem supporting it, and historically, tilted in favour of Marathi.