SURAJ NANDREKAR
In a vibrant democracy, the legislative assembly is the pulse of the state — a place where elected representatives deliberate, question, legislate, and uphold the will of the people. But in Goa, the numbers paint a disturbing picture: over the last six years, the State Legislative Assembly has met for just 142 days.
This amounts to an average of barely 23 sitting days per year — a figure that is not only well below national recommendations but also a worrying indicator of democratic backsliding. For a government that claims to be “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” this lack of legislative engagement raises more questions than answers.
When Democracy
Doesn’t Meet
Legislative sessions are the very foundation of accountable governance. They offer a platform for the opposition to raise public concerns, for ministers to present policies and be questioned on them, and for MLAs to propose laws, amendments, and new initiatives. The fewer the sessions, the fewer the opportunities for democratic participation and scrutiny.
Goa, with its 40-member assembly, falls under the “small legislature” category. According to the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, such assemblies must ideally meet for at least 50 days each year. The reality in Goa is far from it.
Since March 19, 2019, when Pramod Sawant assumed charge as Chief Minister following the death of Manohar Parrikar, the Assembly has met for only 142 days in total — across two different tenures.
The Consequences of a Silent Assembly
When the Assembly fails to meet regularly, key issues affecting the state — unemployment, inflation, education, infrastructure, environment, corruption — don’t receive the legislative attention they deserve.
With short sessions, there’s limited time for Question Hour, budget discussions, and meaningful debates on bills. More often than not, Opposition MLAs are forced to rush through interventions or are denied time due to lack of session length.
This directly affects governance. Without regular sessions:
There is no consistent scrutiny of executive actions.
Public grievances raised through MLAs remain unresolved.
Important bills are often passed without debate.
Private member bills are rarely tabled or discussed.
MLAs have limited opportunity to represent constituencies.
National Benchmarks Ignored
The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution recommends that smaller legislative assemblies, those with fewer than 70 members, should meet for at least 50 days per year. Goa’s 40-member House is well within that bracket. Yet, over the past six years, not a single year has come close to meeting this benchmark.
This underutilisation of the legislative forum raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the overall health of Goa’s democratic process.
A Declining Democratic Culture
Goa is not alone in witnessing a drop in legislative sittings. Across the country, a decline in the number of Assembly sittings has become a worrying national trend, especially in smaller states.
However, in a politically conscious and literate state like Goa, this raises deeper alarms.
Legislative sessions are not mere rituals. They are vital for the functioning of a democracy – a space for raising public concerns, passing laws, scrutinising budgets, and ensuring government accountability. With just 23 sitting days per year, that democratic mandate is increasingly undermined.
The limited sittings also stifle the Opposition’s ability to play its constitutional role.
Private member bills, adjournment motions, and zero-hour discussions often get pushed aside due to time constraints, weakening legislative oversight further.
A National Trend — But Goa Is Worse Off
Across India, there has been a general decline in the number of sitting days in state legislatures. However, Goa ranks among the worst performers.
For example:
Kerala Assembly sits for 50+ days every year.
Maharashtra often exceeds 40–45 days.
Even smaller states like Himachal and Uttarakhand have better records than Goa in certain years.
The Parliament of India, despite facing similar criticisms, meets for more days than the Goa Assembly, and has greater media and public scrutiny.
What Needs to Change?
Mandatory Sitting Days: Goa must implement the recommended minimum of 50 sitting days per year.
Advance Session Calendar: The government should publish an annual calendar of sessions to ensure transparency and public monitoring.
Stronger Opposition Space: More days would allow Opposition MLAs to raise critical issues and push for debate on public welfare.
Public Awareness: Citizens and civil society must demand better legislative engagement from their elected representatives.
The BOTTOM LINE…
The Goa Assembly’s shrinking calendar is a silent crisis. While political rhetoric, inaugurations, and press conferences continue unabated, the real seat of governance, the floor of the Assembly, remains underused and underwhelming.
The people of Goa deserve more than symbolic representation. They deserve a legislature that works actively, regularly, and transparently.
If the Assembly doesn’t sit, democracy doesn’t stand.
Box
Voices from the Opposition
Here’s what some of Goa’s prominent Opposition leaders have to say about the Assembly’s declining sittings:
“This government wants to avoid questions, avoid accountability. The Assembly is being reduced to a rubber stamp, used only when absolutely necessary. In a democracy, the floor of the House is sacred — and this government has shown utter disregard for it.”
Vijai Sardesai, MLA (Goa Forward Party)
“What are we here for if not to legislate, question, and debate? The government avoids long sessions because it fears being exposed. That is the truth. We demand an annual session calendar and a minimum of 50 sitting days every year.”
Yuri Alemao, Leader of Opposition (Congress)
“The Assembly is not merely ceremonial. It’s a constitutional body meant to check the government. If we don’t meet often enough, governance becomes opaque and democracy suffers. People have a right to see their representatives in action.”
Carlos Alvares Ferreira, MLA (Congress)
“The BJP government is running away from accountability. Important public issues are buried because we don’t get time to raise them. The fewer the sessions, the more power stays unchallenged in the hands of a few.”
Venzy Viegas, MLA (AAP)
“This is a betrayal of the people’s trust. We were elected to speak for the public — but how can we, when we’re given hardly any days to even speak? The government is afraid of debate, and that’s dangerous for Goa.”
Viresh Borkar, MLA (Revolutionary Goans Party)
