MARGAO/CANACONA
With the Centre issuing the notification to kick start the exercise of providing political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes, Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar has exuded confidence that the ST communities will finally get the reservation of seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly in the 2027 election.
He said the entire process is expected to be completed in the next two months ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.
Tawadkar hailed the notification of the 'Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025,' stating that this reservation had been finally achieved after a lot of efforts and sacrifices.
“It is indeed a great achievement for our State. We are grateful to our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, Home Minister Amit Shahji, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and our BJP for making this possible,” Tawadkar told The Goan.
On the fate of the Chalo Panjim rally called by UTAA on August 13, Tawadkar said the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will invite a delegation of UTAA for discussions.
Asked whether the Union government issued the notification in view of the threat issued by UTAA to intensify the agitation, beginning with the August 13 Chalo Panjim rally, Tawadkar said the government has been constantly doing the follow up on the ST political reservation with the centre for a long time now.
“UTAA has announced revival of the agitation since it would be one year this month that the law to provide political reservations for the ST community was given assent by the President. May be something was lacking somewhere, but now everything will fall in place”, he added.
Asked whether UTAA will call off the proposed agitation in view of the latest development, Tawadkar said that UTAA will take an independent decision on their agitation, pointing out that people from different political parties and backgrounds are members of the tribal organisation.
“It is for UTAA and individuals to decide on the agitation. As an MLA, if I am convinced after the CM’s briefing that the notification will resolve the issue before 2027, I will not join the agitation. UTAA will take a call on whether to proceed with the agitation or not”, he added.
