<p>Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Rajesh Patnekar was elected as the Speaker of the Goa legislative Assembly on Tuesday defeating Congress's candidate Pratapsing Rane comfortably with a margin of 22-16 votes.</p>.<div dir="ltr">Pro-tem Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo conducted the proceedings—along with votes from three Independent MLAs and three members of the Goa Forward party.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />All 15 Congress MLAs voted for Rane's candidature. So did the only Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, who supported Rane. Dhavalikar has a running feud with the BJP, after the latter engineered a split in the MGP ranks two months ago, but has refused to withdraw a letter of support to the Pramod Sawant-led coalition government.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao was not present at the time of voting.</div>.<div dir="ltr">Commenting after being elected as the Speaker, Patnekar said that former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar would be missed in the House.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />"I cannot forget Manohar Parrikar. His contribution to the House and the state of Goa. He will be remembered in years to come," Patnekar said.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />The need for the election arose, after Pramod Sawant, who was elected Speaker in 2017 was appointed Chief Minister in March this year, after the death of Manohar Parrikar following a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer.<br /> </div>
<p>Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Rajesh Patnekar was elected as the Speaker of the Goa legislative Assembly on Tuesday defeating Congress's candidate Pratapsing Rane comfortably with a margin of 22-16 votes.</p>.<div dir="ltr">Pro-tem Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo conducted the proceedings—along with votes from three Independent MLAs and three members of the Goa Forward party.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />All 15 Congress MLAs voted for Rane's candidature. So did the only Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, who supported Rane. Dhavalikar has a running feud with the BJP, after the latter engineered a split in the MGP ranks two months ago, but has refused to withdraw a letter of support to the Pramod Sawant-led coalition government.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao was not present at the time of voting.</div>.<div dir="ltr">Commenting after being elected as the Speaker, Patnekar said that former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar would be missed in the House.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />"I cannot forget Manohar Parrikar. His contribution to the House and the state of Goa. He will be remembered in years to come," Patnekar said.</div>.<div dir="ltr"><br />The need for the election arose, after Pramod Sawant, who was elected Speaker in 2017 was appointed Chief Minister in March this year, after the death of Manohar Parrikar following a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer.<br /> </div>