Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Jun 8: Members of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community from across political parties gathered in Sanguem on Sunday and reiterated their demand for reservation of assembly constituencies ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.
The meeting brought together key leaders and workers from various political parties in the Sanguem constituency, reflecting a united stand on securing political reservation for Scheduled Tribes before the next state polls.
Participants declared that they would continue their efforts until the demand for reservation of assembly seats for STs is fulfilled. Speakers at the gathering stressed that the community was determined to ensure implementation of the reservation policy before the 2027 elections.
The demand is linked to the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, which has already received presidential assent and has been published in the official gazette. However, a separate notification from the Central government is required for the law to come into force.
Community leaders urged authorities to expedite the issuance of the notification, describing it as the final step needed to operationalise political reservation for Scheduled Tribes in Goa.
Earlier this month, a delegation comprising Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, MLAs Govind Gaude, Ganesh Gaonkar and Anton Vaz, along with former minister Prakash Velip, met Goa BJP president Damodar Naik in Margao and requested him to pursue the matter with the Centre.
Naik reportedly assured the delegation of the party’s full support for the demand.
During Sunday's gathering, speakers said they did not wish to engage in debates with those opposing the reservation proposal, arguing that such discussions could delay implementation. At the same time, they warned that the community would intensify its agitation if the reservation was not introduced before the 2027 elections.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has previously expressed commitment to ensuring political reservation for Scheduled Tribes before the next Assembly polls, while Tawadkar has voiced confidence that the required central notification will be issued well ahead of the election schedule.
The ST community's renewed show of unity is being viewed as a significant push to secure political representation before Goa heads to the polls in 2027.