The Hindu : Karnataka News : Goa MLA seeks to withdraw petition

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Friday, Oct 26, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Goa MLA seeks to withdraw petition

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: Congress MLA Agnelo Fernandes has filed an application with Speaker Pratapsingh Rane seeking to withdraw his petition for the disqualification of two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLAs Ramkrishna Dhavlikar and Pandurang Dhavlikar.

The two MLAs had withdrawn support to the Congress-led coalition government to align with the Opposition alliance during an abortive bid to topple the Government in the last week of July. Mr. Fernandes’ application assumes significance in view of the South Goa Lok Sabha byelection slated for October 31. As the petitions filed by the two MLAs questioning an ad interim order of the Speaker taking away their voting rights are before the Supreme Court, Mr. Fernandes last week informed the Supreme Court through an affidavit that he would not like to proceed with the disqualification petitions pending before the Speaker.

He had stated that in view of the resolution passed by the MGP wherein it withdrew from the Opposition alliance that was formed on July 25 under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he was not desirous of going ahead with the petitions. The court asked Mr. Fernandes to approach the Speaker.

Following the petitions filed in early August, the Speaker barred Mr. Ramkrishna Dhavlikar and Mr. Pandurang Dhavlikar from functioning as MLAs in an ex parte ad interim order, which was passed ahead of a crucial trial of strength for the Government on July 30, leading to the survival of the Government.

In a subsequent order, the Speaker restored their membership of the House but not their voting rights.

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