Goa: Independent MLAs want to be treated as single group

Ahead of the monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, three of the independent MLAs have petitioned the Speaker that all the independents be treated as a separate group.
The Assembly has five independents. One of them is a minister in the BJP-led government.
The three MLAs -- Vijay Sardesai, Naresh Sawal and Rohan Khaunte -- have written to the Speaker Rajendra Arlekar, saying that the five independent legislators "may be treated as a group and be allotted time for demands (on the floor of the House) separately".
The ruling party MLAs constitute three-fourth of the strength of the Assembly and the opposition was dwindling, the letter says.

It also takes exception to the new ballot procedure.
"We urge you to desist from videography of the ballot and other related procedure as it shows lack of confidence in us as MLAs as well as the staff of legislative department who have been hitherto functioning in an impartial and unbiased manner," the letter says, calling the new practise "unprecedented".
"We also urge you to divide the first six starred questions equally into three equal groups namely the ruling, the opposition congress and independents so that these three groups get equal opportunity to redress their issues and that of their respective constituencies," the MLAs have said.

The session would start on July 27 and end on August 14.