The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Goa Democratic Alliance, which is trying to grab power by dislodging the Congress-led government in the state, Monday accused Speaker Pratapsingh Rane of acting in a partisan manner.
"He has refused to meet us since morning and was conducting hearings exparte (on disqualification petitions).
His fax lines are disconnected and he is not picking up the phone," GDA leader Manohar Parrikar told reporters at the assembly complex.
The Congress has filed disqualification petitions against Marashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislators Sudin and Dipak Dhavalikar, ruling on which has been fixed at 1400 IST, half an hour before the crucial floor test in the House.
Parrikar said neither of the Dhavalikar brothers had received the disqualification notice and the speaker was hearing the matter exparte.
The former BJP chief minister said he anticipated that the speaker might debar both the legislators from voting on the floor of the House.
If the two lawmakers are prevented from voting, the strength of the 40-member Assembly will be reduced, giving an edge to the 53-day-old Digamber Kamat government in the voting.
Kamat's government was reduced to a minority on Thursday after the two-member MGP along with an independent legislator withdrew their support.
