PANJIM: The Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in Goa has warned that it will work against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections if the Central government fails to immediately operationalise the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025.
The community has demanded that the Central government immediately notify the commencement of the Act and complete the reservation of Assembly constituencies before the model code of conduct comes into force. Tribal organisations warned that continued delay could compel the community to launch a united, peaceful and democratic Statewide movement to secure its constitutional rights.
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ST leaders on Saturday alleged that the delay in its implementation is denying tribal communities their constitutional right to political representation under Article 332 of the Constitution of India.
Addressing a press conference, Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes in Goa president Adv. Joao (John) Fernandes said much of the preparatory work had already been completed in 2013-14 after the Registrar General of India (RGI) notified the revised Scheduled Tribe population figures. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had begun identifying Assembly constituencies for reservation, but the exercise was interrupted due to the enforcement of the model code of conduct for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, and the subsequent lapse of the Ordinance stalled the process.
Fernandes pointed out that the Goa Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on July 21, 2022, recommending political reservation for ST communities. Acting on the resolution, Parliament enacted the legislation, which was notified on August 13, 2025. However, the Act has remained ineffective for over 10 months because the Government of India has not issued the notification under Section 1(2) bringing it into force.
GAKUVED Federation president Govind Shirodkar recalled assurances given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during meetings with delegations led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that political reservation would be implemented before the 2027 Goa Assembly elections. He said a similar assurance was reiterated during a meeting held in Delhi on June 7, 2026, but no further progress has been communicated.
Expressing concern over recent objections raised by certain organisations after the passage of the Act, tribal leaders alleged that vested interests were attempting to delay the implementation of a constitutional right that had already received the unanimous approval of the Goa Legislative Assembly and Parliament.
To begin with, the ST communities held an awareness meeting in Sanguem taluka on Saturday.
“We will hold meetings in all the villages across the State and appeal to community people to defeat the BJP if Assembly constituencies are not [reserved] for the 2027 Assembly elections,” declared Shirodkar.
ST members Ravindra Velip, Joseph Vaz and others were also present.
