Congress upset over limit on questions in Goa state assembly

The Congress high command began a troubleshooting exercise ahead of the Goa state legislative assembly session tomorrow due to strong differences which have cropped up in Congress Legislative Party over the number of questions allowed to be tabled on the floor of the House.

The assembly session which begins tomorrow will end on October 18.

The Business Advisory Committee of the Goa state legislative assembly had decided to allow only 18 questions per day, including only three starred question per legislator, which has evoked strong reactions from Congress MLAs.

Protests gripped the party as Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, who is also a member on the Business Advisory Committee, supported the move to curtail the number of questions.

Discontent was visible at the Congress legislative party (CLP) meeting held yesterday which was boycotted by a majority of legislators.

Congress has nine legislators in the assembly.

Senior Congress legislator Atanasio Monserratte had alleged yesterday that Rane was involved in "match-fixing" with ruling BJP to allow the assembly work as per the whims and fancies of the treasury benches.

Meanwhile, the Congress high command has sent All India Congress Committee Secretary A Chellakumar to hold parleys with legislators.

Sources said Chellakumar is expected to meet the legislators over dinner at Dona Paula, a suburb near Panaji.