UTAA sets two-month deadline for implementation of ST political reservation
Margao: Members of Goa's tribal community on Thursday demanded that the process to reserve Assembly seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST) be completed within two months and warned of a "severe backlash" if the state did not finalise the exercise ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, according to reports.
The call came at a meeting of the United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA) held at Mardol after the group said the government denied permission for a celebratory gathering at Azad Maidan in Panaji to mark the coming into force of the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Act, 2025. The denial of permission, UTAA leaders said, forced the event to be moved to Mardol.
UTAA president Prakash Velip said the notification of the Act had already been delayed by a year and the community would not tolerate further postponement. He demanded that the process to allocate reservation be finished within two months so that nominated ST representation is secured before the next Assembly elections.
"We now want the reservation of seats completed within the next two months... We are only seeking our constitutional right, not taking away anything that belongs to others," said Prakash Velip.
Velip told the gathering that tribal members had made "significant sacrifices" for the cause and reiterated the demand for four ST Members of the Legislative Assembly in the next polls. He added that the community had been waiting for years and could not afford further delays.
Priol MLA Govind Gaude also addressed the meeting, warning that the tribal community would not be placated by further promises. "We have been fooled for long. We won't be fooled anymore," he said, urging immediate action and indicating plans for intensified mobilisation if the government did not act.
Attendance and atmosphere
Despite heavy rain, a sizeable number of tribals from across Goa attended the meeting at Mardol, signalling strong grassroots interest in speedy implementation of the law. Organisers characterised the gathering as peaceful but firm in its demands.
UTAA's grievance centres on the perceived delay between enactment of the Readjustment Act and its formal notification and implementation. According to the group, the delay has deprived ST communities of representation in four successive Assembly elections.
What the UTAA wants and immediate implications
UTAA has asked the state administration to:
- Issue the necessary notifications and complete the seat-readjustment exercise within two months;
- Ensure that four Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates for the 2027 elections;
- Allow celebratory and awareness activities in prominent public spaces to mark the law and mobilise voters.
Failure to meet these demands, the alliance warned, could lead to protests and other forms of mobilisation ahead of the elections, posing challenges for public order and the electoral calendar. The UTAA framed its demand as a constitutional right rather than a political concession.
Background and legal context
The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Act, 2025, which UTAA referenced at the meeting, has been presented as the legislative basis for political reservation of Assembly seats for STs in Goa. UTAA leaders say that formal notification and the administrative process to translate the Act into reserved constituencies have not been completed, causing concern among tribal citizens who say they have been without promised political representation for decades.
| Issue | UTAA demand |
|---|---|
| Timeframe for completion | 2 months |
| Number of ST MLAs sought | 4 |
| Reason for meeting relocation | Denial of permission at Azad Maidan, Panaji |
Officials and next steps
The meeting did not include statements from the state government in the reporting. UTAA's demand places pressure on administrators to expedite notifications and complete technical steps such as delimitation or readjustment of constituencies, if required, well in time for the 2027 polls.
Political parties and election authorities will need to monitor developments closely: any last-minute changes to constituency reservation could affect candidate selection, campaigning and the overall electoral timetable. UTAA has indicated readiness to escalate its agitation should the government fail to meet the two-month deadline.
With the election year approaching, the issue of ST reservation in Goa is likely to assume greater prominence in public debate and among political actors. The coming weeks will determine whether the government responds with expedited administrative action or faces intensified tribal mobilisation ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
