MARGAO
Another area where the BJP will have to tread cautiously is whether it will continue to field Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates in general category constituencies after four Assembly seats are reserved for the ST community.
The issue assumes significance amid indications that Canacona and Sanvordem, currently represented by Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar respectively, may not figure among the four constituencies earmarked for ST reservation.
Sources said the development could place the BJP in a difficult position and raise a key question ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections: will the ruling party continue to nominate ST leaders, more so sitting ST MLAs, in constituencies beyond the four reserved seats?
While there is no constitutional or legal restriction on candidates from reserved categories contesting from general constituencies, the BJP will have to strike a delicate balance if it chooses to field ST candidates in addition to those contesting from the reserved seats. The party would need to ensure that such decisions do not trigger resentment among other caste groups or aspiring candidates.
The situation is particularly relevant in Canacona, represented by Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar. The question confronting the BJP is straightforward: will the party retain Tawadkar as its candidate from Canacona if the constituency remains a general seat, or will it persuade the minister to shift to one of the four ST-reserved constituencies?
