Jaipur- In a significant political development, the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), a nascent political entity just nine months old, has announced a strategic initiative to unite fragmented social organizations and political groups of indigenous communities across India.

BAP is actively reaching out to various tribal groups and organizations to form a robust Indigenous Political Alliance, akin to alliances like NDA or INDIA.

This effort aims to consolidate the diverse voices of tribal populations, primarily focusing on the Hindi heartlands of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat in the primary phase with a long-term vision of creating a nationwide coalition of tribal forces.

Dr. Jitendra Meena, the national spokesperson of BAP, elucidated the party’s vision in an exclusive interview with The Mooknayak. He emphasized the necessity of unifying the myriad tribal groups and organizations under one umbrella to amplify their voices and effectively address their shared concerns.

Even after 75 years of independence, India's tribal communities feel betrayed, he states. There are approximately 130 million tribals in India, living across around 25 states and union territories. During election times, political parties make grand promises to these communities. Prominent leaders engage in symbolic gestures like dancing with tribals, wearing their traditional clothes, and speaking a few words in their language to win their favor.

However, once the elections are over, these political parties, their governments, and mainstream society often marginalize tribals, labeling them as anti-development, Naxalites, jungle dwellers, uncivilized, barbaric, demons, and Vanvasis. They do not even consider it appropriate to call them by their real name, 'Adivasi.'

Faced with this situation, the choice for these 130 million tribals is clear: either watch their identity and rights erode or exercise their constitutional rights. To protect their existence and defend their rights, they must unite and fight through democratic means.

This includes sending more elected representatives to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies who are committed to working with a sense of coexistence, collectivity, and mutual respect.

Dr. Meena pointed out that numerous tribal political parties and social organizations often operate in isolation and tend to disband after a few years. “There are many social groups and political parties working in their own way. Those with a presence in Parliament or state assemblies can be easily identified, but there are several smaller groups which work for 4-5 years and then disappear,” he explained.

Creating a Common Minimum Program

The primary focus of BAP is to address the universal issues faced by indigenous communities, which revolve around "Jal, Jungle, and Jameen" (water, forest, and land), cultural identity, and basic rights.

Dr. Meena asserted that while there might be region-specific issues, the core problems remain consistent across different areas. By consolidating these groups and creating a common minimum program, BAP aims to form a large alliance to tackle these challenges comprehensively.

“It will take time, maybe 3-4 years, to see some good shape taking up,” he added.

Dr. Meena highlighted the current polarized political environment, dominated by the BJP and Congress, as a significant barrier to addressing the needs of marginalized communities.

He criticized both parties for exploiting the 'Adivasi' theme for electoral gains without delivering substantial benefits to the community.

“The present situation is evident where politics is polarized. One hand is the BJP and the other is Congress. Those who do not align with the BJP have to side with the Congress. This polarization is not healthy as either way, narratives are set by these two giants,” he remarked.

BAP's plan involves reaching out to various groups and organizations. "The party president is in the process of approaching numerous groups, such as the Jayas, Adivasi Ekta Parishad, Gondwana Gantantra Party etc. There is a large network of Adivasi Senegal Abhiyan in the north eastern states. We aim to include every such group under a big umbrella," Meena added.

The journey ahead is anticipated to be long, with Dr. Meena projecting a 3-4 year timeline before the alliance takes a definitive shape. However, the vision is clear: to provide a robust third front in India's political landscape, championing the rights and issues of indigenous communities.

As BAP continues to rally support and consolidate tribal groups, this movement could reshape the political dynamics in several states, potentially altering the balance of power in India's intricate political mosaic.

About BAP

Leaders, cultural activists, linguists, educators, students, historians, and grassroots workers from tribal communities across India united politically under the banner of the Bharat Adivasi Party which is rooted from Bharatiya Tribal Party, Gujarat.

BAP was founded with a vision of an all-India identity, commemorating its establishment day on September 10, 2023, at Tontya Bhil Playground, a tribal inspiration site in Dungarpur, Rajasthan.

Founding members include Mohanlal Raut (President), Kantilal Raut, Rajkumar Raut, Heeralal Dayma, Dr. Jitendra Meena, Maya Kalasua, Dilip Bhai Vasava, Rajubhai Balbhai, Ramprasad Dindor, Jitendra Asalkar, Manilal Garasia, Mangilal Nanama, and others.

Shortly after its inception, the Bharat Adivasi Party contested in the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections of 2023, winning on 4 seats out of 35 contested (27 in Rajasthan and 8 in Madhya Pradesh). Rajkumar Raut won from the Chorasi Assembly constituency in Dungarpur, Umesh Damor from Aspur, Thawarchand Meena from Dhariyawad, and Kamleshwar Dodiyar from Sailana constituency in Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh.

The party secured approximately 1.1 million votes across these elections, with 4 candidates securing second place and 16 third place positions.

BAP changed the political landscape in the tribal-dominated region of southern Rajasthan after its candidate Rajkumar Roat won the Banswara- Dungarpur seat. WIth this victory the issue of tribal identity, formation of a ‘Bhil Pradesh’ and an increase in reservation for Scheduled Tribes have come to the centre stage. Roat won the reserved seat with a margin of 2,47,054 votes by defeating the veteran tribal leader, former minister and Congress turncoat Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, from the BJP.

BAP's Political Agenda

• Ensure a separate 'Tribal Code' in census to maintain tribal identity, traditions, and clan system, with a permanent ban on forced conversions.

• Provide land titles of 5 acres under the Forest Rights Act 2006 to all landless tribals nationwide, reviewing rejected claims by state governments.

• Implement PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996 and Schedule 5 in villages with over 50% tribal population.

• Dissolve the Forest Department and hand over all forest lands to tribals for conservation purposes.

• Allocate a share of forest produce (vanopaj) to tribals.

• Provide reservation in private sector, judiciary.

• Immediately halt lateral entry into government services by the central government.

• Ensure proportional representation in accordance with population ratios for all sections of society.

• Implement immediate measures to stop attacks on minorities.

• Merge Adivasi majority areas to form states of Bhil Pradesh and Gondwana.