Margao: With Quepem likely to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, BJP vice-president and former Quepem MLA Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavalekar said he would leave the choice of an alternative constituency entirely to the party.“I am sure the party will take note of my contribution and make an appropriate decision. As for an alternative constituency for me, if and when Quepem is reserved for STs, it is for the party to consider the options. Rather than express my personal preference, I would leave that call to the party,” Kavalekar said.Kavalekar, who belongs to the Dhangar community and lost Quepem to Congress’s Altone D’Costa in the 2022 polls, said he was confident BJP would consider his years of service to the party and society while deciding his political future.He also criticised D’Costa over development in the constituency, claiming there have been no new initiatives, and that projects sanctioned during Kavalekar’s tenure were being implemented. “There has been no new development in the constituency. The sitting MLA should show what new works he has brought to Quepem,” Kavalekar said.D’Costa hit back in a social media post, mocking Kavalekar’s claims. “Twenty years in office = zero development. Lost elections after 20+ years for doing nothing & suddenly seeing all-round development he thinks he did it.”Kavalekar is currently leading the Dhangar community’s agitation for ST status. The community has set Aug 15 as the deadline for state govt to act, warning of a statewide agitation after Aug 27 if no decision is taken.
