PANAJI
With the BJP-led Goa government optimistic about implementing Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation before the 2027 Assembly elections, the ruling party is internally preparing for a major political realignment, with Priol, Sanguem, Quepem and Nuvem emerging as the four constituencies likely to be reserved under the new law, sources said.
The move, if cleared by the Centre, is expected to significantly alter Goa's political landscape and force both the BJP and the Congress to redraw their electoral strategies ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to top government sources, the proposed reservation pattern envisages one constituency in North Goa – Priol -- and three in South Goa -- Sanguem, Quepem and Nuvem.
However, despite the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act receiving Presidential assent more than seven months ago, the Union government is yet to issue the notification required to operationalise the legislation, raising concerns that the reservation exercise could be delayed beyond the next Assembly elections.
The proposed reservation carries significant political implications. Priol MLA Govind Gaude, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community, would remain eligible to contest from the reserved constituency.
However, sitting MLAs Subhash Phal Dessai (Sanguem), Aleixo Sequeira (Nuvem) and Altone D'Costa (Quepem), who are not ST candidates, would be ineligible to re-contest from their present constituencies if they are reserved.
The issue has already triggered discontent in Sanguem, where sections of BJP workers and supporters of Phal Dessai have opposed the proposed reservation. The minister has publicly stated that he was not taken into confidence during the process.
The implementation process now hinges on the Union government appointing a Census Commissioner under the Census Act, 1948, to determine or estimate Goa's Scheduled Tribe population. Based on the Commissioner's recommendations, the Election Commission of India would notify the Assembly constituencies to be reserved.
