Panaji, October 22, 2026:Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Chairman of Media & Communication Department Amarnath Panjikar has strongly questioned Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant’s reported statement that the responsibility for providing political reservation to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in Goa now rests with the Election Commission of India.
“OMG! Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, have you forgotten your own promises? You repeatedly assured Goa’s tribal community that the BJP government would ensure political reservation before the 2027 Assembly elections. You projected it as a major achievement of the BJP’s Double Engine Government. And now, when the community is demanding answers, you are shifting the responsibility to the Election Commission. Is this your idea of accountability?” Panjikar asked.
Panjikar said the Chief Minister cannot repeatedly take credit for promising constitutional justice to the ST community and then distance himself from responsibility when the process remains incomplete.
“The people of Goa have heard enough promises. The BJP leadership, both in Goa and at the Centre, has repeatedly claimed that the Double Engine Government would deliver political reservation to the ST community. If both engines are working in coordination, why is the community still waiting for its rightful political representation? When it comes to making promises, the BJP takes the credit; when it comes to delivering results, the responsibility is passed from one authority to another.”
Panjikar pointed out that on May 25, 2026, the Chief Minister reportedly reiterated his commitment to securing ST political reservation before the 2027 Assembly elections. The Central Government subsequently brought the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, into force on August 6, 2026. The statutory process has therefore moved forward, but the final notification identifying the reserved constituencies remains a crucial step.
“Now the Chief Minister says the Election Commission is responsible. The question is simple: What exactly has the Goa Government completed, what remains pending, which authority is responsible for each pending step, and when will the entire process be completed? The tribal community deserves clear answers, not another round of political blame-shifting.”
Panjikar said that the Election Commission’s statutory role does not absolve the BJP governments in Goa and at the Centre of their responsibility to ensure timely coordination, transparency and completion of the process.
“The BJP cannot hide behind constitutional institutions after making political commitments to the people. The Chief Minister must place the facts before the public and explain whether the promised reservation will become effective before the 2027 elections. If the government has completed all the work on its side, let it publish the details, identify the pending formalities and disclose the expected timeline.”
He further said that political reservation is not a favour being granted by the BJP but a matter of constitutional representation and democratic justice for Goa’s Scheduled Tribe community.
“The ST community has waited for decades for its rightful place in Goa’s Legislative Assembly. Its aspirations cannot be reduced to election-time assurances, press statements and credit-taking exercises. The community needs action, certainty and accountability.”
Panjikar demanded that the Chief Minister publicly clarify the present status of the reservation process, the precise responsibilities of the State Government, the Central Government and the Election Commission, and the timeline for notifying the reserved constituencies.
“The BJP must stop treating ST reservation as a political publicity campaign. Constitutional rights cannot be delivered through slogans. The people of Goa will judge the government by what it delivers, not by how many times it repeats its promises.”
