Elated over bagging 27 seats out of 39 candidates in the fray on seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the recently concluded lok Sabha election, the BJP Scheduled Tribe Front is now looking for a bigger role in the coming Assembly elections in Jharkhand.
Senior tribal leader and president BJP Scheduled Tribe Front Faggan Singh Kulaste have claimed that the party will bag at least 22 out of the total of 28 seats reserved for STs during the Assembly elections in the State. Presently the party has nine reserved Assembly seats in its kitty.
Kulaste was speaking after attending the two day working committee meeting of BJPs ST Morcha on Sunday. "If we manage to get 21-22 seats in the State as per our expectations, then we will be in a position to have a greater say in the Government formation in Jharkhand. We strongly believe that there must be a stable Government in the State," said Kulaste.
According to Kulaste, it was stressed during the meeting to seek bigger role for the Morcha in the coming Assembly elections in the four States, including Jharkhand. "The provisions for Tribal rights must be strongly implemented in the State not only in the rural areas but also in the urban areas," added Kulaste. Four States of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir are slated to go for polls this year or early next year.
Several political proposals were also passed on Sunday in the meeting to be given final shape in November meeting to be held by the Morcha. On the basis of feedback from the ground-level members, a report will be prepared by the Morcha to be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Committees have been formed to study the problems related to the Tribal people, their Constitutional rights, education and development. A report will be submitted to the Centre to find solutions for them," said Kulaste.
Kulaste added that it was also decided in the meeting to form different groups of workers belonging to Morcha who will go on every 28 constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in order to ensure victory for them.
BJP organisational general secretary Ramlal stressed on seeking greater role for the Morcha. "The Morcha will have to play a greater role in the coming Assembly elections to help BJP win 42 plus seats in Jharkhand. The target of all the 28 seats reserved for ST must be fixed by the Morcha to provide a better, stronger Government in Jharkhand," said he.
Several political proposals have been also passed during the meeting where the present Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led Hemant Soren Government was held responsible for the pathetic condition of tribals in the State.
The BJP Government at the Centre, however, was hailed for taking adequate efforts for the development of the tribal people in the State. Modi was thanked for triggering several initiatives during the Budget presentation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley where Rs 50,540 was allotted for the STs and SCs.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda inaugurating the meeting at Jharkhand Assembly said that the STs and SCs must recognise their potential and take a lead role in the field of education, health and technology. Munda also appealed to assure victory over all the reserved seats in the state.
According to Munda, only a BJP-led majority Government can bring justice and equality to the people of the State. Several other tribal leaders also took part in the meeting, including all the MlA and MPs of Jharkhand.