Former Mayor of Ranchi and National Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party, Dr. Asha Lakra, has been appointed a member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) by the Government of India.
Lakra’s appointment was done on the recommendation of President Draupadi Murmu by the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes section of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on Saturday. Lakra’s post is equivalent to that of a Union Minister of State in the Centre.
A native of Gumla district in the State, Asha Lakra is also the co-in-charge of BJP’s West Bengal unit. She has been considered as a very strong tribal women’s voice in the State. Sources said that her work in the field and her distinct identity among the common masses, especially tribals, made her prominent in the eyes of the Central BJP, which gave her the responsibility of the National Secretary.
Lakra was given the responsibility of preparing election strategy in many states of the country in 2022, in which she performed well. In the assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Assam, West Bengal and Goa, she gave the lead to BJP with her wisdom and political maturity.
The former Ranchi Mayor has been vocal in Jharkhand against the government on issues such as exploitation of tribals, atrocities on tribals, mental harassment, rape and other issues.
After her appointment to NCST was announced, Lakra expressed gratitude to President of India Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda.
She said that no work is small or big. It is the result of true dedication, hard work and honest work that she became the National President of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. After this, she got new responsibilities, which she considered as her duty and moved forward. “Now I will try to fulfill this new responsibility in a better way,” she said.
Interestingly, Asha Lakra’s name was being considered for the Rajya Sabha candidate from Jharkhand. But, she was given the new responsibility at the Centre on the same day Pradeep Verma’s name was announced to contest the polls.