Panaji: The scheduled tribe leaders in Goa on Monday demanded that the state government should move to the centre seeking an ordinance on reserving the seats in the State legislative Assembly.
Addressing the press conference in Panaji, ST leader Govind Shirodkar said that the state government an move to the centre demanding that an ordinance be issued empowering the Election Commission of India to reserve the seats.
Shirodkar said that the elections for Goa Assembly seats is scheduled to be held early next year but there are indications that it may be held in December, this year.
He said that considering the current situation, it seems unlikely that the seats would be reserved for the Scheduled Tribe community in the state.
In August 2025, Parliament passed The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, aiming to provide political representation for the state’s approximate 10.23 per cent ST population. While the 40-member assembly currently has no ST-reserved seats, this legislation initiates a process for boundary readjustment to implement reservations for the 2027.
Shirodkar said that there is no clarity on the issue even from the state Tribal Welfare minister Ramesh Tawadkar. “If government fails to move to the centre seeking ordinance, then we will be forced to agitate against the government,” he said.
The Tribal leader said that they will wait for two days, after which they will agitate in the state, pressing for the demand of the Reservation.
He said that the recent defeat of the Delimitation Bill in the Parliament was a setback for the possibility of seat reservation in Goa Assembly for 2027 election.
Shirodkar said that the Tribal leaders have often met the local lawmakers including Chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant but there is no assurance given by them.
Once the reservation is implemented, four Assembly seats would be reserved for the ST community. Goa assembly currently has one seat — Pernem Assembly segment— reserved for the Scheduled caste community.
When contacted, Tawadkar was not available for his comments.
