from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jul 13: The main opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) on Friday said that it would not mind having talks with the other non-Congress groups for consensus on candidate for deputy speaker's post.

The election for deputy speaker in the 40-member Goa legislative assembly is scheduled on July 17.

"We are in talks with the other parties. If there is consensus we may withdraw our own candidate,'' leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar told reporters.

The BJP's legislative wing, which met on Friday in Panaji, selected its Poinguinim legislator Ramesh Tawadkar as the candidate for deputy speaker's post.

Earlier, the BJP had withdrawn its candidate fromthe fray for speaker's post paving way for senior Congressman Pratapsingh Rane to be elected speaker unopposed.

BJP with its 14 legislators is banking on the support of regional outfits like two-member Save Goa Front and United Goans Democratic party which has a lone legislator.