Goa’s Scheduled Tribes are angry, and their anger is not without reason. For years, they have demanded political representation in the Legislative Assembly. Parliament has now enacted legislation providing for the reservation of four of Goa’s 40 Assembly constituencies for Scheduled Tribes. Yet, with the 2027 elections approaching, the government appears to be moving at a pace that could make the law meaningless for the very election it was intended to address.
The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa Assembly Constituencies Act was meant to overcome the earlier obstacle of waiting for a nationwide delimitation exercise. The law created a route for identifying four constituencies for ST reservation. Goa’s tribal population, including Gawda, Kunbi and Velip communities, constitutes roughly a tenth of the state’s population. The demand for political representation is therefore neither exceptional nor disproportionate. It is a constitutional question of democratic equality.
What makes the present delay particularly troubling is the political explanation being attached to it. But if reservation is postponed until after the 2027 election, what exactly is the purpose of having made the provision now? A constitutional guarantee that arrives after the electoral opportunity it was designed to protect becomes an empty promise. Tribals have begun to suspect that the delay is politically calculated because reserved constituencies could alter established electoral equations and make it harder for the ruling establishment to retain seats it currently regards as secure. Such an allegation must be tested by facts, but the government has a responsibility to remove the suspicion rather than deepen it through procrastination.
The issue is larger than four seats. Political reservation exists because historical exclusion cannot be corrected simply by declaring everyone equal at the ballot box. Representation is a means by which communities denied power acquire a legitimate place within institutions that govern their lives. The warning of tribal organisations that continued delay could provoke a revolt should not be dismissed as political theatre. It is a signal of accumulated frustration. The government should act before the electoral calendar closes the door. The question Goa’s tribals are asking is fundamental: if justice is constitutionally promised, can its implementation be postponed for political convenience? Democracy cannot answer yes without damaging public faith in constitutional democracy.
Ranjan Solomon via email
