PORVORIM : BJP legislator Ganesh Gaonkar was on Thursday elected Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly after securing a majority vote during a special session of the House.

Governor P Ashok Gajapathi Raju had summoned special session of Goa legislative assembly on Thursday to elect the new Speaker, as the post had fallen vacant due to resignation of Ramesh Tawadkar, who was inducted in the Sawant-led cabinet.

In the session held on Thursday morning, Gaonkar polled 32 votes against his rival, a Congress candidate Altone D’Costa, who was supported by only seven MLAs. The opposition had fielded D’Costa, the MLA from Quepem Assembly constituency in South Goa.

The BJP, which has 28 members in the House, enjoys the support of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party’s two legislators and three I

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