The Daman Municipal Council, one of the oldest municipal Councils (set up in 1581) in the country, is once again the hub of political activities with councillors demanding "either give us a Legislative Assembly or make us part of Goa again". Discerning people, however, are of the view that at the moment the ideal choice is to be a part of Goa.

"Our first preference would be to have a separate Assembly. But looking at the size of Daman and Diu it is better to be part of Goa," contends Mario Lopes, Daman Municipal Council president. In fact, ever since Daman and Diu was separated from Goa, the people in this union territory have felt let down by the Home Ministry which did not keep its promise.

In 1987, when Daman and Diu were delinked from Goa due togeographical reasons which caused administrative inconvenience, Lopes says, "We were promised that Daman and Diu would have a lieutenant governor. But the Home Ministry managed to appoint an IAS as administrator who does exactly the same work which a collector used to do when we were part of Goa. In fact, work was fast as files did not have to go through many offices. Today, so many officers have to take decision on a file, causing unnecessary delay and inconvenience to the people. Considering these things even our MP Devji Tandel is taking up the matter with the government."

Concurring with Lopes, the vice-president of Daman Municipal Council Syed Farid Qureshi says, "The people here feel that they have been deprived of Assembly as a result there is too much bureaucratic hold. As a reaction to that there is a move on the part of people to seek reunion with Goa, the erstwhile Portuguese colony which was liberated in December 1961."

So strong is the sense of their "distinct identity" that few years backwhen Gujarat BJP unit suggested that this coastal Union Territory be merged with Gujarat, there was strong reaction to the proposal. Even Bharatiya Janata Party MP Devji Tandel offered to resign from the party. "We don't want anything to do with the Gujarat BJP unit. We want to directly deal with the Centre," the MP had written to the then party president L K Advani.

Tandel is lobbying to ensure that the government moves a Bill in the current session or winter session of Parliament granting Legislative assemblies to Daman and Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the demand for Assembly figured prominently in the election manifestoes of BJP, Congress and Daman & Diu Vikas Party.

Talking to The Indian Express, Daman and Diu district panchayat president Dahyabhai Patel said only an Assembly could fulfill democratic aspirations of the people. District panchayat has virtually no powers, he admitted. He, however, asserted that local bodies like district panchayat or DamanMunicipal Council could not be a substitute for the Assembly.