BJP Performs Well in Tribal-Dominated Seats in Chhattisgarh Polls

Experts attribute this success to the public rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP chief JP Nadda in the tribal belt. The launch of the party’s two parivartan yatras from tribal areas and pre-poll promises also worked in their favor.

The BJP won a total of 54 seats in the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly, taking power from the Congress who secured 35 seats. The Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) won one seat. Out of the 90 seats, 29 are reserved for the ST category, which makes up around 32% of the state’s population. In the previous assembly polls, the Congress won 25 ST-reserved seats, but this time they only managed to secure 11. On the other hand, the BJP significantly improved their tally from 3 to 17 tribal-dominated seats. The GGP won one seat as well.

According to poll analyst R Krishna Das, tribals are crucial in the formation of the government in the state. Despite the Congress taking several pro-tribal welfare measures, they could not retain the support of the tribals this time. The BJP capitalized on this by aggressively targeting the Bhupesh Baghel government for allegedly protecting those involved in religious conversion.

Additionally, protests against mining in tribal pockets also affected the Congress’ prospects. The GGP and Hamar Raj Party, an outfit recently formed by Sarva Adivasi Samaj, also played a role in the Congress’ loss in many ST-reserved seats.

Notable BJP leaders who won from seats reserved for the ST community include Union minister Renuka Singh, MP Gomti Sai, former Union minister Vishnu Deo Sai, former state ministers Ramvichar Netam, Kedar Kashyap, and Lata Usendi. Neelkanth Tekam, an IAS officer who joined the BJP after quitting his service, emerged victorious as well.

In the first assembly elections held in Chhattisgarh in 2003, the BJP made significant inroads among tribals, who were once considered staunch supporters of the Congress. However, in subsequent elections, the BJP started losing their hold over them. In the 2003 polls, the BJP won 50 seats, including 25 reserved for the ST category, defeating the Congress government led by Ajit Jogi. The Congress won nine ST-reserved seats.

In the 2008 elections, the BJP formed the government again with 50 seats, including 19 ST-reserved seats. The Congress won 10 ST-reserved seats. The number of ST-reserved seats was reduced from 34 to 29 in 2008 due to delimitation.

In the 2013 polls, tribal voters shifted their support significantly towards the Congress, although they fell short of a majority. The Congress won 18 out of the 29 tribal-reserved seats, but their overall tally was limited to 39.

The BJP won 49 seats, including 11 ST-reserved seats. In 2018, the Congress won a landslide victory with 68 seats, ending the BJP’s 15-year rule. The BJP was reduced to 15 seats, while the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and the Bahujan Samaj Party won 5 and 2 seats respectively.

The Congress also won two more ST-reserved seats in bypolls.

As the state assembly polls approached this year, the BJP’s star campaigners toured tribal-dominated areas.