Pacheco files disqualification petition

Panaji, Oct 3 (UNI) Goa Tourism Minister Francisco Xavier Pacheco today filed a petition before the State Legislative Assembly Speaker Pratapsingh Rane, seeking disqualification of PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco from the house.

In the petition, he has submitted that the two should be disqualified under the Xth schedule of the constitution for voluntarily giving up the membership of Save Goa Front, a registered and recognised political party, and also for defying the directives of the party while extending support to the Digambar Kamat-led ministry and joining Congress. This act of theirs was in violation of Article 191(2) under the Xth Schedule of the constitution, which calls for their disqualification from being and continuing to be members of the assembly.

Mr Pacheco, one of the NCP legislators elected from the Benaulim constituency, alleged that last year, the respondents along with the members of the Opposition party had made attempts to topple the Congress-led government of Digamber Kamat.

He stated that when the respondents realised that toppling the government was not possible, the respondent number one (Almeao) voluntarily extended his support to the Ministry and secured a berth in the cabinet by promising to merge his party SGF with the Congress.

UNI SRN SSS SLD AS1834