Residents of Costi village in Kalay, Goa, who had threatened to boycott the zilla panchayat elections, turned out in large numbers to vote on Saturday. This reversal came after they received firm assurances from their local MLA and State Assembly Speaker, Ganesh Gaonkar, regarding the urgent repair of a dilapidated Portuguese-era culvert and a critically deteriorated road. However, the villagers have issued a stark warning: they will boycott the crucial 2027 state assembly elections if their long-pending demands are not fulfilled.
A Protest Withdrawn on a Promise
The two electoral wards of Costi had earlier declared their intention to abstain from the ZP polls. This protest was a direct response to the prolonged and severe neglect of the vital bridge connecting Costi to Mirabag in Curchorem and the connecting road. The situation changed with a visit from Assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar. He appealed to the villagers to engage in the democratic process, asserting that "boycotting elections won't solve this problem." He promised to undertake the repair work on a priority basis. Following this, Gaonkar arranged for the road to be temporarily levelled with mud to make it minimally usable for pedestrians.
Decades of Neglect and Unmet Demands
Kalay Sarpanch Balu Rekdo expressed gratitude that the people trusted their MLA's words and voted in large numbers. However, he underscored the persistence of the core issues. "I support the demand of the villagers for road repairs. The last time this road was tarred was in 1989 by the panchayat; since then, the road hasn't been hotmixed even once," Rekdo revealed, highlighting an astounding 34-year period of neglect. The dispute over the crucial bridge has been stalled for years due to unresolved conflicts over land ownership.
Rekdo further illuminated another shocking example of administrative failure. The government primary school in Costi has functioned without a permanent electricity connection since its establishment in 1963. Power is drawn from a nearby pole only for three days whenever the school serves as a polling booth during elections, after which the connection is promptly severed.
The Ultimatum for 2027
While the immediate crisis was averted for the zilla panchayat elections, the community's patience is wearing thin. The villagers have made it clear that their participation in the 2027 Goa assembly elections is contingent on seeing tangible progress on the ground. The temporary mud-leveling of the road is seen as a stop-gap measure, and the demand for permanent, high-quality repairs to both the road and the historic bridge remains non-negotiable. The ball is now in the court of the authorities to deliver on their promises before the next major electoral test.
