Jaipur- As the countdown to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections commences, traditional political giants BJP and Congress brace themselves for a formidable challenge from tribal parties. Despite BJP's ambitious campaign with a slogan of 400 crores and Congress's promises, the emergence of Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) signals a shift in the political landscape, particularly in tribal-dominated regions where both BJP and Congress faced rejection in recent assembly elections.

BAP is embarking on an ambitious electoral journey, preparing to contest elections on 32 Lok Sabha seats across seven states. With a focus on Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, BAP aims to amplify the voices of indigenous populations and challenge mainstream political narratives.

BAP's electoral strategy centers on prioritizing regions with significant tribal populations, where issues of social marginalization and neglect have long been prevalent. The party's initial focus lies on key constituencies such as Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, and Banswara, Udaipur, and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, where tribal communities constitute a significant portion of the electorate.

BAP's Struggle for Equitable Representation: Stalemate with Congress

At the core of BAP's ideology lies a commitment to social justice, equity, and empowerment. By championing the cause of indigenous communities, BAP seeks to redress historical injustices, promote inclusive development, and safeguard tribal rights. Its agenda encompasses land rights, access to education and healthcare, economic opportunities, and cultural preservation.

BAP had hoped to join forces with the Congress party for the Lok Sabha elections. They had asked for multiple seats across different states, including Rajasthan. Specifically, they were keen on securing both the Banswara and Udaipur Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, seeing them as crucial for representing tribal communities effectively. However, their discussions with Congress didn't go as planned.

"We made it clear to Congress that Udaipur and Banswara seats rightfully belong to BJP, having won them twice in 2014 and 2019. We proposed that if Congress leaves these seats to BAP, it could strengthen the INDIA alliance. However, Congress disagreed, asserting they had nothing to lose in these seats and were only willing to concede one seat, Banswara, to us. Despite our efforts, including meetings with AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and AICC in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, we couldn't reach a favorable outcome." - Mohanlal Roat, BAP Chief said in a conversation with The Mooknayak.

Despite their efforts, Congress was only willing to offer BAP one seat, specifically the Banswara seat. This was disappointing for BAP, as they had hoped for a more equitable distribution of seats. Negotiations reached a stalemate, with BAP feeling that Congress wasn't fully considering their demands and the importance of tribal representation.

Faced with this deadlock, BAP decided to go ahead and field their own candidates for the elections. While they had hoped for a partnership, they remained determined to fight for the rights of tribal communities, even without the support of a major party like Congress.

In Rajasthan BAP has so far announced candidates on 4 seats including Rajkumar Roat in Banswara-Dungarpur, Prakash Chandra in Udaipur, Mangilal Ninama in Chittorgarh and Jagdish Meena in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat.

In Banswara, Congress finds itself in a precarious position following the defection of its veteran leader and former minister, Mahendrajit Singh Malviya, to the BJP.

Malviya's move to the opposition has caused a political crisis for Congress, leaving them scrambling to strategize their next steps. With discussions revolving around forming an alliance with the Bharat Adivasi Party or fielding their own candidate, Congress faces significant challenges in maintaining its stronghold in Banswara.

Despite Congress leading in vote share during the assembly elections, Malviya's defection has shifted the political landscape, posing a formidable challenge for Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In this scenario, the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) appears to be in a favorable position compared to both the BJP and the Congress. With the Congress yet to announce its candidate for the seat, there is speculation that if it extends its support to the BAP candidate, securing victory in the Banswara seat would pose a significant challenge for the BJP.

The BAP's growing influence and potential alliance with the Congress could reshape the political dynamics in Banswara, potentially altering the outcome of the upcoming elections.

National spokesperson of BAP , Jitendra Meena shared his insights with The Mooknayak. "We believe that there is an ongoing injustice towards the tribal society, largely due to the ignorance of social issues by certain public representatives. In response to this, our party has intensified its efforts and become more active in tribal-dominated areas, aiming to address these issues and advocate for the rights of tribal communities" he stated.

"A significant segment of the Adivasi community is looking towards capable leadership, akin to that of the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), for political representation. This isn't the first time; previously, Gongpa received considerable votes but the party later faced internal divisions. Somewhere along the line, both major parties stand to lose from the votes BAP receives." Meena added.