Panaji, March 16 – Goa's budget session was curtailed on Monday following the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming by-election to an assembly constituency in the state.
Before the session was adjourned, the state budget was passed in the House.
The session, which began on March 6 at the Vidhan Sabha in Porvorim, North Goa, was originally scheduled to continue till March 27.
Earlier in the day, CM Sawant said they would seek the opinion from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to decide about the continuation of the assembly session, in view of the by-election announcement.
The ECI on Sunday announced a by-election for the Ponda assembly constituency in South Goa district on April 9, necessitated following the demise of sitting BJP MLA and the then agriculture minister Ravi Naik.
On Monday, State Protocol Minister Mauvin Godinho moved the motion to suspend the working of the House for the current session when members assembled post-lunch.
The motion was passed with a majority voice vote, even as the Opposition wanted a discussion on the private members' resolution (on various issues) moved by it.
Before the adjournment of the session, CM Sawant passed the budget in the House with a voice vote.
The budget was presented in the assembly on March 6.
"I had to pass this budget with a heavy heart as I was expecting that I would get an opportunity to explain it (budget) to the people," he said.
Opposition Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai demanded that the government pass a vote-on-account for four months without rushing to pass the budget.
He said that another session can be called to discuss the budget before it is passed.
The chief minister said that after the current code of conduct, the state will hold elections for various municipalities.
"This is a year of elections. We will have another code of conduct due to the municipal elections. We can't hold back the budget as we want to complete several developmental works," Sawant said.
After the passing of the budget, the speaker adjourned the House.
