MARGAO
Amidst the hectic campaign for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Tuesday unveiled his plans in Cuncolim constituency represented by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, sending a message loud and clear to the people that they need no longer go to the Congress office for government works.
In fact, in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, former BJP MLAs Clafacio Dias and Rajan Naik, Phal Dessai announced that the BJP office will remain open in Cuncolim 24x7, raising speculations in political circles whether the Social Welfare Minister will opt for Cuncolim to contest the 2027 Assembly polls post-implementation of political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes.
That’s not all. The Social Welfare Minister said while the people of Cuncolim can visit the party office for their day-to-day works, those from the villages of Paroda and Ambaulim, both part of Cuncolim constituency, can approach him at his residence and office at Quepem.
In fact, when Phal Dessai was making the announcement at the meeting with the party karyakartas from Cuncolim to drum up support for Pallavi Dempo, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was seen welcoming the Minister’s address.
Phal Dessai’s announcement of taking charge of Cuncolim constituency has left tongues wagging whether the Minister, who is representing Sanguem constituency in the Goa Legislative Assembly, may shift to Cuncolim post-implementation of political reservations for the ST community. For, it is perceived in political and social circles that Sanguem constituency, which has a large presence of the ST community, may be reserved for the ST community after the implementation of political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes.
