BJP Steps Up Campaign For MP Polls

NEW DELHI: As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections draw near, the BJP has begun to intensify its organisational and electoral activities. With the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his American tour, speculation is rife that there could possibly be an organisational reshuffle in the Madhya Pradesh state unit. Prime Minister Modi will be visiting the state on Tuesday. Detailed discussions over the issue will be held between the central BJP leaders and the chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the next few days.

Meanwhile, after focusing on women and youth, the Madhya Pradesh government has now zeroed in on the six lakh-plus government employees in the state. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a four per cent hike in dearness allowance for the six lakh state government employees.

The BJP has also intensified its efforts to consolidate the tribal vote bank in the state. Prime Minister Modi is all set to visit the crucial tribal-dominated Dhar in the Malwa-Nirma region. Incidentally, this region had propelled the Congress to power in the last general election.  While the PM is set to sound the poll bugle from this tribal belt, Chief Minister Chouhan has been making efforts to strengthen his tribal outreach by launching the “Janjatiya Gaurav Yatra” in this region. The Malwa-Nimar region has 66 of the 230 Assembly seats in the state. After the women’s vote bank, comprising nearly 48 per cent of the state’s population, the tribal vote bank holds the key to the MP throne.

According to the Census, Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tribals in India. These tribals comprise over 21 per cent of the state’s population. After the Prime Minister, top BJP leaders including party president J.P. Nadda and home minister Amit Shah, are also expected to visit and hold rallies in this particular belt. It may be recalled that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra had cut across nearly 25 Assembly berths in the state. During the last Assembly polls, of the 66 Assembly berths, the Congress had won 35 seats and the BJP 28.

Sources said that the BJP has already started holding small meetings in the tribal-dominated areas in the state. The Chief Minister has also made an aggressive push to reach out to the Kol, Bhil and Gond tribes in the state. On OBCs, Mr Chouhan has also met the representatives of the Kevat (traditional boatmen), Chaurasias, Dhankars, Prajapatis, Ahirs, Gujjars, Meenas and Kurmis in the state.