Team Goemkarponn
SANGUEM: Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai has said he will abide by the BJP’s decision on his political future if Sanguem constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), adding that the party will decide where he should contest in the next Assembly elections.
Phal Dessai said ST political reservation was a long-pending demand and a constitutional right of the community. He welcomed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement that the process was expected to be completed by November–December, while noting that he did not know what decision the court would deliver.
Phal Dessai said that if Sanguem is reserved, an ST candidate from the BJP would represent the constituency. The party would then conduct surveys and assess the political situation before deciding his next course of action. He said he would accept the decision taken by the Chief Minister, the state BJP president and the party’s central leadership.
The minister also revealed that nearly 300 BJP workers had gathered at his residence around 10 pm the previous night, seeking clarification on the Chief Minister’s statement on ST reservation. According to Phal Dessai, the gathering continued until midnight, during which he urged the workers to remain calm and respect the court’s decision.
“Subhash Phal Dessai is not above the party, nor above the court. Subhash Phal Dessai is not above our country,” he said, stressing that everyone must act in accordance with the Constitution and accept the court’s verdict.
Phal Dessai said that if Sanguem is not reserved, he will continue to contest from the constituency. However, if reservation is implemented, he will leave the decision to the party. He also said that people from constituencies such as Cuncolim, Sanvordem and Curchorem had expressed a desire for him to contest from their areas, but he did not want to interfere in constituencies represented by fellow BJP legislators.
Rejecting the suggestion that the BJP was deliberately sidelining experienced leaders to promote younger faces, Phal Dessai said the party believed in creating opportunities for new leadership. He maintained that leaders who earn public trust, irrespective of age, would continue to have a place in the organisation.
The minister expressed confidence that voters would accept an ST candidate if Sanguem is reserved, saying the constituency has a substantial ST population. He added that he would support whichever candidate the party chooses.
Phal Dessai also said his commitment to public service would continue regardless of his political future. He said he entered politics through social work and would return to it full-time if his political career came to an end.
