EDITORIAL
Goa’s quota debate is reshaping caste equations and testing BJP’s balancing act
All of a sudden, Goa’s political landscape is witnessing an intense realignment of caste equations. The central government’s notification regarding political reservation for the state’s Scheduled Tribes (STs) for Assembly seats has evoked a sharp reaction from the Maratha community. While thanking the government for the notification, tribal leaders, on the other hand, have warned that they will not rest till their demand for political reservation in the forthcoming Assembly elections is met. Last Thursday, the central government notified the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, in the gazette, bringing it into force from August 6. The notification was issued two days after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.
On Sunday, leaders of the Akhil Gomantak Kshatriya Maratha Samaj warned the central and state governments, as well as the BJP, of serious consequences if political reservation for the STs is implemented without conducting a fresh Census. Stating that giving reservation on the basis of the 2001 or 2011 Census would be unjust, the samaj said opposition to reservation without a fresh Census was not only their demand but also that of non-ST voters. Questioning the rationale of using the 2001 Census, they noted that the three communities – Kunbi, Gawda and Velip – gained ST status in 2003, having been in the OBC category during the previous (2001) Census. They have accused the government of trying to appease one community while hurting the sentiments of the Maratha community. Their leaders also warned that the community would teach the BJP “an appropriate lesson” if their demands were not met. One of their grievances is the lack of a seat-rotation policy. This samaj has a strong clout in the present government.
On the other hand, tribals under the banner of the United Tribals Association Alliance (UTAA) held a meeting and a prayer session at Katamgal Dada, Farmagudi, on International Tribal Day, seeking early completion of the remaining process for reservation. ST leaders view the notification as a long-overdue right and are pressing for its immediate implementation before the next Assembly polls, warning that any further delay denies them core constitutional entitlements. They also argued that despite accounting for over 10% of the state’s population, they lack dedicated political representation, leaving them under-represented in policymaking. Since the political reservation Bill got the President’s assent nearly a year ago, UTAA has been demanding its notification.
Amid this development, the Dhangar community has stepped up taluka-level meetings to advocate for their long-pending inclusion in the ST list. Of the four tribes, Dhangars were kept out of the ST list in 2003 and, even after 23 years, their status has not changed. Irrespective of whether it is due to some technical issue or not, the samaj members have not been able to avail themselves of the benefits extended to the three STs.
Given the above situation, there is tension among three communities that are mainly in South Goa. Considering the anxieties and warnings issued by the samaj leaders, the ruling party has a challenge in hand. They cannot afford to antagonise either the tribals or the Marathas. What is interesting is that at this stage itself, some ruling politicians have already started feeling the heat. More theatrics are likely, political analysts have predicted. When such issues crop up, Goa wakes up to one sociological reality – that it is a traditional society. Resolving this complex situation is not easy. How the BJP will resolve this multi-layered political dilemma remains to be seen.
