looking to make a mark in a State where the party is rolling backward with every passing election, the Congress is eyeing the sizeable tribal voters.
Party top brass, including Union Cabinet Minister Jairam Ramesh, will take part in a tribal meet organised by Kendriya Pahada Jatra Samiti at Bedo, 35 km from Ranchi, on Monday. Congress MP Subodh Kant Sahay, Congress legislative Party leader Rajendra Singh and former Congress MP and NCST chairman Rameshwar Oraon will join the caravan.
“Our president (Sukhdeo Bhagat) is also going to attend the Mahotsav. The Union Minister is coming and other Congress leaders have plans to participate,” said Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Shailesh Sinha.
The samiti, established way back in 1967, is organising the 47th Jatra Mahotsav, which showcases tribal culture, tradition and unity.
Impressed by Ramesh’s frequent visits to Jharkhand — officially linked with various developmental programmes — the Congress leadership has given him an added responsibility to resurrect the party.
The Congress has slumped from six lok Sabha seats in the general elections of 2004 to just one in 2009 and could reach only 13 in the House of 81 during the previous polls. It is now looking to utilise traditional get-togethers to garner tribal support in the State.
The organiser, however, sees nothing political in this. “Pahada Jatra Mahotsav is a traditional conclave of Oraon tribes in which they remember, analyse and revisit their old customs and culture. They still follow a monarchy, where order of the king is paramount. The meet is apolitical,” said Ravindra Nath Bhagat, Vice-Chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University and president of the organising committee.
The mahotsav is expected to see more than a lakh tribals from 331 villages — named as Pahada — and their ‘kings’ participating. The Congress, besides hoping to send out its message, also want to publicise the ‘good work’ it has done for the community.
“It could be a good way to start. One such tribal conclave at Ranchi could not materialise but this time, the party will utilise the opportunity. Ramesh’s presence will certainly help the Congress gain credence in the eyes of tribals of Jharkhand ahead of the polls,” said a senior party leader.
Bhagat also indirectly admitted the political importance of the jatra. “Everyone expects something from those who are in power. People here have high hopes from Ramesh and the Congress. Politicians see this as a platform to take their message to the masses at one go. People coming here would carry the message to lakhs of others back home, especially in the Oraon belt,” he pointed out.