Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO::The upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections in Salcete have taken an intriguing turn following the State Election Commission’s latest notification on seat reservations. Of the nine ZP constituencies going to the polls next month, four have been earmarked for Other Backward Communities (OBCs) — including one for a woman — two for Scheduled Tribes (STs), and three for the general category.
Beyond the numbers, the revised reservation matrix has dramatically altered the political landscape, forcing parties to redraw their electoral strategies and rework candidate lists. What was once seen as a straightforward contest has now become a complex political chessboard where alliances, caste equations, and candidate eligibility are being reassessed overnight.
The Congress, in particular, has been caught off guard. Four of its traditional strongholds — Curtorim, Navelim, Nuvem, and Guirdolim — now fall under OBC or ST categories. The change has effectively sidelined several of its earlier frontrunners, including sitting ZP member Michele Rebello, whose Curtorim seat has been reserved for an OBC candidate. Party sources admit they were unprepared for this turn, expecting the seat to remain general or at best, fall under the ST category. Now, the party is racing against time to identify credible OBC faces.
A similar predicament looms in Navelim, where three-time ZP member Cipru Cardozo had recently joined the Congress, eyeing a comeback. The seat’s OBC (women) reservation has upended those plans, compelling the party to look for a strong woman candidate from the community.
The BJP, on the other hand, appears better placed to benefit from the reshuffle. The party, which won the Guirdolim and Davorlim seats in the 2020 polls, could consolidate its position since those very constituencies are again reserved for ST and OBC candidates, respectively. ST leader Sanjana Velip and OBC member Paresh Naik, who represented these areas earlier, may well find themselves in contention once again.
For the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the reservation order has been a mixed bag. While its hopes of contesting Davorlim through a Scheduled Tribe nominee have been dashed after the seat was allotted to OBCs, Raia — long held by ST leader Dominick Gauncar — remains reserved for the ST category, offering some relief to the regional outfit.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), meanwhile, seems the least affected. All three ZP constituencies under its current Assembly turf — Benaulim, Colva, and Velim — remain in the general category, allowing the party to field strong candidates without reservation constraints. However, Curtorim and Guirdolim — now under OBC and ST categories — will require fresh scouting for suitable contenders.
Political observers note that the new reservation pattern has significantly reshaped the power balance in Salcete, with both established parties and emerging forces forced into recalibration mode. As candidate searches intensify and community equations take centre stage, the stage is set for one of the most closely watched ZP elections in recent years — where social demographics may prove just as decisive as political loyalty.
