CANACONA
Given a sizeable tribal community in Canacona, the United Tribal Associations’ Alliance (UTAA) and its leaders have had significant influence in the taluka ever since it was founded in October 2004.
UTAA’s staunch supporters from the southernmost constituency have been unhappy over recent developments and an ongoing battle between UTAA executive members and their opponents.
They have warned that it could have a telling effect on political leaders in future if efforts are made to silence the voice of UTAA and undermine its importance.
“UTAA has done a lot for the tribal community in Canacona. Had it not been for UTAA, the tribal community would not have been able to get the increased value for scholarships, better cashew rates, and several other schemes and benefits,” said Paiek Velip, ex-panch of Kuskem in Khotigao village and a staunch supporter of UTAA.
“Such has been the support for UTAA in Canacona that a strong force of about 3,000 people from Canacona alone had travelled in 32 buses for UTAA’s 20-year celebrations in Ponda in November 2024. They were among the strong participants of 25,000 people who gathered in Ponda. Their presence and participation alone speak volumes about the support that people from the community in Canacona and elsewhere have for the UTAA.”
Paiek Velip cautioned that the ongoing tussle within the political hierarchy in the State can have serious repercussions in Canacona.
“The ST community, most of whom are supporters of UTAA, commands a sizeable voter base of 11,000 in the Canacona constituency. If the ongoing battle with the central committee of UTAA is allowed to escalate, it could seriously affect the BJP in Canacona constituency,” said Paiek Velip.
Incidentally, none of the BJP leaders who are aligned with the Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar were willing to comment on the importance and influence of UTAA in Canacona constituency.
Canacona BJP Mandal President Prabhakar Gaonkar declined to give his views on the alleged fallout among ST leaders within the BJP and whether it could affect the prospects of the party in Canacona constituency.
“The BJP Mandal will address the media in due course of time,” he said.
Another staunch leader, Vishant Gaonkar, a former sarpanch of Gaondongrim and a close aide of Tawadkar, who had worked as personal assistant to Tawadkar during his term as minister, was also reluctant to speak on the matter.
