Patel’s Ulihatu visit signals BJP’s renewed tribal outreach

Seeking to strengthen its organisational and political connect with Jharkhand’s tribal communities, the BJP’s newly appointed state in-charge and national general secretary Gajendra Singh Patel began his first tour of the state with a visit to Ulihatu, the birthplace of tribal icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda.

Patel paid floral tribute at Birsa Munda’s statue and met his descendants, Sukhram Munda and Budhram Munda, enquiring about their well-being and seeking their blessings. Describing the visit as a matter of pride and inspiration, Patel’s outreach to the family of Birsa Munda came as the BJP seeks to reinforce its engagement with the tribal population, a politically significant constituency in Jharkhand.

Patel was accompanied by Jharkhand BJP co-in-charges Saurabh Singh and Nivedita Singh and state BJP president Aditya Sahu.

His appointment assumes significance given his organisational background, including his association with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad and the BJP’s Scheduled Tribe Morcha. The BJP has replaced Laxmikant Vajpayee with Patel as its Jharkhand in-charge, entrusting him with the task of coordinating the party’s organisation and strengthening its grassroots presence ahead of the 2029 Assembly election.

At a felicitation ceremony and meetings with state office-bearers at the BJP state headquarters, Patel made clear that winning back Jharkhand would be a major organisational objective. He told party workers that a determined and coordinated effort could help the BJP return to power in the state in 2029.

“Only a determined effort is needed. If we take the necessary steps together, no one can stop us from winning Jharkhand in 2029,” Patel said.

He described Jharkhand as strategically important for the BJP and reminded workers that the party had formed governments in the state several times in the past. Citing the BJP’s electoral victories in West Bengal and Delhi, Patel asked workers why the party could not similarly regain power in Jharkhand.

“We have to work together to build Jharkhand and change its direction and development trajectory. We have to work with the resolve to win Jharkhand at all costs in 2029,” he said.

Patel also stressed the need for an honest assessment of the party’s strengths and shortcomings. He said organisational work would not be restricted to the state headquarters but would be taken to districts, Assembly constituencies and, where necessary, the mandal level.

The emphasis on grassroots expansion, coupled with Patel’s tribal-focused organisational background and his choice of Ulihatu for his first major outreach, signals the importance the BJP is attaching to rebuilding its connect with tribal communities as it prepares for the next Assembly battle in Jharkhand.