Bhopal. Even though the 2028 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections are still a few years away, the ruling BJP has already begun working on a strategy to strengthen its grip in tribal areas. Out of the total 230 Assembly seats in the state, 47 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and these seats have long played a decisive role in determining the power equations. This is why the BJP has launched a new and unique initiative in these regions, named the Cluster Development Project (Sankul Vikas Pariyojana).

This project is not only being presented as a new model of development but is also being viewed as a major political investment. The party claims that this will be an experiment where development work will be carried out in collaboration with the community without relying on government aid, thereby building trust and closeness with the local populace.

What is the Cluster Development Project?

The BJP's Tribal Front has initiated the Parliamentary Cluster Development Project in tribal areas. Under this scheme:

1. Formation of Clusters from 3-4 Villages In every tribal-dominated Assembly constituency, 3-4 (up to 8 in some cases) Gram Panchayats will be combined to form a cluster.

   • These panchayats will be interconnected.

   • This will make access and implementation easier.

   • A collective development plan will be prepared for the group as a whole.

2. The Project Will Run Without Government Funding Work will focus on issues like education, health, unemployment, livelihoods, water crises, and migration in the clusters.

   • There will be no direct intervention from government departments.

   • The work will be carried out by the Tribal Civil Society.

   • The approach is designed with the local community at its center.

The BJP aims to develop this as a 'Model Village Cluster', so that the visible changes in these villages become a foundation of trust for the party during elections.

Before implementing the project, the BJP has prepared detailed profiles for each cluster. These include: the cluster's name, district, block and related Assembly constituency, list of participating Gram Panchayats, total population of the panchayats, number of families, distance from the tehsil headquarters, and the number of villages under each panchayat.

This data will help prioritize development activities, identifying where schools are lacking, where water scarcity is acute, where health infrastructure is weak, and so on, ensuring everything is mapped out in advance.

To implement the project at the grassroots level, a Cluster Committee will be formed, including the BJP MLA from the relevant area, sarpanchs of Gram Panchayats, Janpad Panchayat presidents, and District Panchayat members.

In areas without a BJP MLA, former MLAs or previous BJP candidates who contested elections will be included. In essence, this project also serves as a medium to keep the party's local leaders active from an electoral perspective.

The Power of Tribal Areas: 47 Seats and the Power Equation

Of Madhya Pradesh's 230 Assembly seats, 47 are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. Based on the 2023 elections, the distribution of these 47 seats is as follows:

• BJP: 25 seats

• Congress: 21 seats

• Bharat Adivasi Party: 1 seat

Wins and losses on these seats directly determine the fate of governments. This is why both parties are constantly working to strengthen their presence in these areas.

Through the Cluster Development Model, the BJP wants to send the message: "Congress only made promises for years, but the BJP can bring change to villages even without government help."

What is the BJP's Political Intent?

In reality, the Cluster Development Project is not just a development model but a multi-layered electoral strategy:

• Building Trust Among Tribal Voters

  -Participation of the local community.

  -Work without government funds, conveying the message of "We will do it."

• Weakening Congress's Hold

  - Congress has traditionally been strong in tribal areas.

  - The BJP aims to challenge it by establishing a development model.

• Keeping Local Leaders Active

  - Through Cluster Committees.

  - By giving roles to defeated leaders to accelerate election preparations.

• Preparing the Ground for 2028

  -In the next 2-3 years, visible progress in these villages will directly benefit the elections.

The success of the project will depend on how active the Tribal Civil Society remains, how much real work gets done without government funding, and how responsibly the panchayats and local representatives perform. However, from a political standpoint, it's clear that the BJP is giving immense importance to this project to overcome its traditional weaknesses in tribal areas.

"BJP Has No Concern for Tribals": Tekam

In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Ramu Tekam, the Tribal Congress State President, stated that in the past 22 years, the BJP government has failed to secure even basic rights for tribals or provide them with a dignified life. He questioned what change this new campaign will bring to tribal lives.

Tekam alleged that the BJP's sole aim is to mislead the tribal society and gain electoral benefits. He said, "For the BJP, tribals are just numbers and votes. The party has no real concern for their issues, rights, or development."