The increasing vote share of BJP shows that the RSS strategy in tribal areas is working, albeit slowly
The Congress may have managed to retain its hold on 15 tribal seats out of 27 but the future may not be that benevolent for it as the BJP, powered by the Sangh Parivar’s strategy, is breathing down its neck.
Though the BJP won only nine seats, it was in very close contest for in at least five seats. The difference was less than 5,000 votes in Nandod, Kaprada, Jetpur, Chhota Udaipur and Dangs. In Dangs and Chhota Udaipur the Congress managed to win by a wafer-thin margin of 1,000 votes.
Working in alliance with the Congress, rebel JDU leader Chhotubhai Vasava-led Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) but could win only two seats of the five that were given to him by the Congress. The BTP, however, may have managed to help Congress retain a few seats because of the influence of its Bhilistan Tiger Sena (BTS). The BTS, the non-political arm of BTP, has been at the forefront of anti-BJP agitations in several areas of tribal region.
The increasing vote share of BJP shows that the RSS strategy in tribal areas is working, albeit slowly. The RSS has long term plans to bring Gujarat’s tribal belt, spread along the eastern border from south to deep north, into its fold.
By 2025, when the saffron organisation will complete 100 years, it wants to achieve its target of changing the tribal landscape by establishing 5,000 Ekal Vidyalayas. It has established 1100 so far.
“We believe in Gita. Karmanev Adhikaraste Maphaleshu Kadachana, our work is to do the job on the ground and not be worried about its outcome. If the work is good, the results will come automatically,” said Vasanbhai Gamit, the Sanhchalak of Tapi district who is also the force behind RSS’s Ekal Abhigyan.
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