MARGAO
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai has said the party is gearing up to contest the election for the Margao Municipal Council scheduled in early 2026, saying the party will not only contest all the Municipal wards in Fatorda, but in wards falling in Margao as well.
He also said the party will have no choice but to face the prospect of increase in the number of seats of the Margao civic body from 25 to 27.
Briefing the media, Sardesai said the party will not fight the 2026 Margao Municipal polls under the Fatorda Forward banner. “The Fatorda Forward panel was floated when the party had a tie up with Digambar Kamat’s Model Margao. Since Digambar is now in the BJP, we will float a panel which will contest all the 25 Municipal seats,” he said.
When the media drew his attention to reports that moves are underway to increase the number of Margao Municipal wards to 27 in the coming polls, Sardesai said the BJP should realise that increasing the number of seats will not bail out the party in the coming election. “If the move to increase the number of MMC wards to 27 is done for the benefit of the people and for administrative ease, it is welcome. But we have no choice, but to face and fight it,” he said.
Bill on illegal structures to woo migrants
On the passage of government’s Bill to legalise illegal structures on Comunidade and government lands, Sardesai said the move is solely intended to garner some votes in the upcoming Zilla Panchayat polls. “Somehow, the BJP leadership has realised that the party will no longer get the votes of Niz Goemkars. To tide over the situation, the government is trying to woo the migrants with moves to legalise illegal structures,” he said.
Push for ST quota
On the political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes in Goa, the Goa Forward chief said the issue is simple that the ST communities in Goa should get the reservations in the 2027 Assembly election. “There is unanimity amongst all the political parties on political reservations for the ST communities. Now, let us wait and see how the double-engine government goes about the process. The ball lies in the court of the ruling government at the Centre and in Goa to ensure that the Scheduled Tribes in Goa get the political reservation in the 2027 Assembly elections,” he said.
