Mapusa MLA elected deputy speaker

Porvorim: BJP MLA Joshua D’Souza was elected as the deputy speaker of Goa legislative assembly on Friday.
The 33-year-old legislator who represents Mapusa constituency is the youngest presiding officer to have been elected to Goa legislative assembly so far.
D’Souza garnered 24 votes against Congress MLA Delilah Lobo who received 12 votes. Three opposition MLAs – two of AAP and one RGP – abstained from voting.
The resolution to elect D’Souza was moved by Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar and seconded by Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar. For Lobo, the resolution was moved by Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira and seconded by Fatorda GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai.
The House congratulated D’Souza on his election as deputy speaker of the assembly by adopting a congratulatory motion. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said D’Souza will do justice to the new role. “It is a moment of pride for the people of his constituency. He will realise the dreams of his father,” said Sawant.
D’Souza expressed gratitude to his colleague for reposing faith in him and added that he will execute his functions with full integrity and sincerity. The new deputy speaker told reporters that the post carries a “huge responsibility” in the functioning of the House. “The role of the speaker is to be fair to each and every member of the House. The opposition’s role is to voice out the concerns of the people, and we have to allow them to speak,” he added.
After the election, Congress MLA Sankalp Amonkar said the non-support of AAP and RGP MLAs to their candidate exposed the two parties.
Joshua, the son of former deputy chief minister Francis D’Souza, was first elected to the assembly in the May 2019 bypoll, the seat that fell vacant following his father's demise. He was re-elected in the February 2022 assembly elections. Before his election as lawmaker, D’Souza served as councillor of Mapusa Municipal Council.