MARGAO
The Mission Political Reservations for Scheduled Tribes (STs) has warned that the BJP could face serious electoral consequences if the government fails to fulfil its promise of implementing political reservations for tribal communities ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Stating that Parliament has already enacted the law providing political reservations for Scheduled Tribes, Mission President Adv John Fernandes said the responsibility now rests with the “double-engine” BJP government to ensure its implementation.
“With Parliament passing the Act providing political reservations for the ST communities, the ball now lies in the court of the double-engine BJP government. The BJP now has to either implement the Act or postpone its implementation. If the government fails to implement the law, the BJP will have to face the backlash of the ST communities in the upcoming Assembly elections,” Fernandes said.
Maintaining that there is still sufficient time to implement the law before the next Assembly polls, Fernandes questioned the delay in operationalising the legislation.
“There should not have been any delay in implementing political reservations. The law providing for political reservations is already in place. The 2001 Population Census data is available with the Registrar General of India. All that is required is a notification authorising the Election Commission of India to initiate the process for implementing political reservations,” he said.
Asked whether the Mission had a contingency plan if political reservations were not implemented before the elections, Fernandes reiterated that the BJP would face the political repercussions. “Let the government not implement political reservations, and the BJP should be prepared to face the consequences in the Assembly elections. The ST population is not confined to the four constituencies that are expected to be reserved for the community. Tribal voters are present in significant numbers in around 10 to 12 Assembly constituencies,” he added.
