The answer as to who will be the winner between BJP and Congress in the upcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh lies somewhat with the tribal population in the state. They may turn the tables as they have a considerable influence in the state. In the heavily dominated state of Chhattisgarh, there are 29 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the 90-member Assembly. 12 of these seats had voted in the first phase of the polls while the remaining 17 are scheduled to hold elections on November 20.
Four out of the 12 tribal seats in the first phase observed a higher percentage compared to 2013 assembly elections. The two major parties Congress and the BJP claimed that the “extra” votes registered would prove a game-changer for them. The State Minister of Tribal Development and School Education Kedar Kashyap said the BJP was receiving “an overwhelming tribal support” in 2018.
He denied any attempt to reduce the number of tribal seats or neglect tribal leadership in policy making. “I’m the BJP’s candidate for the fourth time and fully participate in policy making,” Kedar said, adding that Tribals received individual and community rights over forest land in “large numbers” in Chattisgarh and “these will benefit BJP”.
Apart from seats reserved for tribals, other seats also have a large number of tribal voters. Jagdalpur and Ambikapur have more than 50% tribal voters.
Both the BJP and the Congress know that these seats could be significant in the elections. In 2013, the Congress had won eight of 12 seats in south Chhattisgarh while in the north, the party got nine seats, whereas the BJP got the remaining eight.
BJP leader, Nand Kumar Sai, who has been a three time Lok Sabha and two times Rajya Sabha MP, accused BJP of neglecting him. The former president of the BJP in undivided Madhya Pradesh and the former Opposition leader who is an important tribal face in Chattisgarh was not even asked if he was interested in campaigning in a State where a third of the seats are reserved for the tribals.
Mr Sai, who is the chairperson of National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) said, “Big leaders are coming. Perhaps they don’t need me”.
Mr Sai who is also an RSS associate, while commenting on the winning probability of BJP said that he “should not comment against the party.” But he did point out the issues that could impact the polls.
“Firstly, there are serious attempts to convert the tribal land into non-tribal land. Second, the tribal seats are reducing. When Chattisgarh was formed [2000] there were 34 seats reserved for the tribals, now it is 29; I can’t understand how only the tribal percentage and seats are decreasing while others are growing,” the tribal leader said.
He also mentioned other concerns — from “non-implementation of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act in the tribal dominated Fifth Schedule areas, non-availability of teachers in schools with tribal children, “planned” attempts to acquire tribal land” to violation of the law in Naxal-dominated areas.
Talking about the Naxalism threat, Mr. Sai said, “BJP could not stop naxalism and the only solution that they could think of is to arrest tribals, while police tortures women and fake encounters are continuing”. Referring that the BJP does not like hearing these from their own party member, he said, “I am often considered anti-party for raising such issues”.
The state goes to polls for the second phase on November 20.
(with inputs from The Hindu)