Say EC cannot begin delimitation until 2027 Census data is available
PANAJI
The passage of the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Assembly Constituencies Bill, 2025, in both the houses of the Parliament is considered as a “historic” step towards fulfilling the long-awaited demand of the community, who currently have got no seat reserved in the 40-member State Assembly, despite having a population of close to 1.50 lakh.
Though the community is eyeing for 2027 polls to have four seats reserved for them, the legal and electoral experts are of the view that the aspiring tribal candidates will have to wait until at least 2032 to contest from the reserved seats. According to them the four constituencies that could be reserved are – Canacona, Quepem and Priol in South and one from North Goa – either Cumbharjua or Mandrem.
Experts say that until the 2027 Census data is out, the Election Commission will not or rather as per law cannot go ahead with the delimitation process. And if the ECI decides to go for a delimitation commission using the 2011 census then that would be erroneous.
“It is not possible in the 2027 polls. Unless you have the ST population data in hand, how can the delimitation exercise be undertaken? ECI will have to wait for Census 2027 data. Taking that into account, the reservation may be possible in the 2032 assembly election,” State Election Commissioner Daulat Hawaldar said.
The Government of India will begin the next population census, which is caste based in two phases. For Goa and the rest of India it will start from March 1, 2027. The census will provide updated population figures essential for constituency delimitation.
“The Census will take atleast two years and after that the ECI will set up the delimitation commission for readjustment of seats in Goa. ECI will not try to bypass any procedure,” Hawaldar said.
While the presidential assent may be swift, the real challenges lie ahead.
“We cannot say whether it would be possible in 2032. STs might have to wait for the 2037 election to get the benefit of the bill. One need to understand, passage of Bill is just a first step towards the extensive process that will have to be followed to reserve the seats. Pending updated population data, ECI cannot go ahead to readjust the seats,” former Union Law Minister Ramakant Khalap said.
He said that there are chances that the ECI could theoretically fast-track the process by constituting a Goa-specific delimitation commission or using 2011 census data but that would be unconstitutional. “It has been over 14 years now since 2011 data was collected. During this time, the population might have doubled. ECI will wait for the updated population figures,” Khalap said.
A former State Election Commissioner claimed that only after the 2027 Census, ECI would be in the position to say whether it would be four seats or three or more.
The Bill empowers the Election Commission of India to make amendments in the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008 and readjust the seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa for the Scheduled Tribes of the State.
The Bill aims to grant the Census Commissioner the authority to declare the number of STs in Goa and the Election Commission will consider these new ST population statistics to modify the constituencies of the Legislative Assembly.
