Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said he would take a decision on contesting the 2027 Goa Assembly elections from the Ponda constituency only after Ganesh Chaturthi, while maintaining that he is prepared to contest from any constituency under the alliance formula.
Speaking to reporters, Dhavalikar said he is currently focused on his work in Ponda and will decide on his electoral plans at an appropriate time.
“I am working in Ponda and will decide on contesting the 2027 Assembly elections from the constituency after Ganesh Chaturthi. I am using the alliance formula and I am ready to contest from any constituency. The elections may be held in December 2027 or after December,” he said.
On the controversy surrounding the Goa government’s approval of a nearly ₹2 crore electricity bill waiver for the private Formula 4 (F4) racing event held at Manohar International Airport, Mopa, Dhavalikar said he would first verify whether the decision had been approved by the Cabinet before commenting further.
He clarified that not every government decision is taken by the Power Minister and that several matters are decided by high-powered committees.
“I will have to verify whether the Cabinet approved it. Not every decision is taken by me. Some decisions are made by high-powered committees, and I am not a member of those committees,” Dhavalikar said.
The Minister also responded to questions on the proposed IIT Goa campus at Farmagudi following opposition expressed during a Gram Sabha meeting.
Dhavalikar said the Gram Sabha’s opposition does not automatically mean the government will abandon the project. At the same time, he said it also does not indicate that the project will necessarily go ahead at the same location.
“The opposition in the Gram Sabha does not mean the government will scrap the IIT project. It also does not confirm that the project will proceed at Farmagudi. The final decision rests with the government,” he said.
