Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday assured the House that the government would provide reservation in the state legislative assembly for Scheduled Tribe (ST) community by 2027.

The Chief Minister, replying to a question raised by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas over the long pending reservation to ST in the state legislative assembly, said that there is a dispute about four constituencies recommended for reservations. “The constituencies having maximum ST community voters will be reserved,” he added.

Earlier, Viegas charged government of giving step-motherly treatment to the ST community.

He said the reservation has been pending for 20 long years.

“Four constituencies namely Mayem, Sanguem, Quepem and Priol have been recommended to the Central Election Commission by the State Election Commission for reserving to the ST community,” he added.

The Chief Minister raised an objection for reserving Mayem constituency for ST community, as there are hardly 150 ST voters in the particular constituency.

Participating in the discussion, Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai said that Kashmir has reserved 9 out of its 90 constituencies for the Scheduled Tribe. He pointed out that the reservation is a constitutional requirement.

Speaker, Ramesh Tawadkar said that Goa should reserve seats for ST community alike other states.