Former Goa PWD minister Deepak Pauskar has declared his intent to contest the 2027 Assembly elections from the Sanvordem constituency, following his quiet return to the BJP earlier this year. However, Pauskar has not yet confirmed if he will contest on a BJP ticket or as an independent, keeping his options open for now. “I am weighing all possibilities, including contesting independently. What matters is serving the people of Sanvordem,” Pauskar said in a recent statement.
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Pauskar’s political journey has been marked by twists and turns. He was elected as an MLA in 2017 on a Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) ticket, defeating BJP’s Ganesh Gaonkar. In 2019, he switched his allegiance to the BJP and served as the state’s PWD minister under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. However, his tenure as minister was overshadowed by controversies, particularly related to recruitment in the PWD, which cost him his party’s support in the 2022 elections. The BJP replaced him with Ganesh Gaonkar as its candidate, leading Pauskar to run as an independent in 2022, where he was defeated by Gaonkar.
Despite the loss, Pauskar remains confident in his connection with the Sanvordem electorate. “I did good work during my tenure as MLA. The people still approach me with their issues, and I try to resolve them,” he said, expressing optimism about his chances in 2027. Pauskar highlighted his efforts to push for development in the constituency, adding that even BJP leaders, including CM Sawant, have supported many of his proposals aimed at improving local infrastructure.
On another front, Pauskar has been actively engaging with local issues, recently lending his support to Dudhsagar Falls jeep operators who are protesting the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s control over online bookings. “Their demand for handling online bookings through their association is reasonable, and I stand with them,” Pauskar stated.
Pauskar’s political future in 2027 will depend on whether the BJP offers him a ticket or if he chooses to contest independently, but his re-emergence suggests he is far from exiting the political stage.
