BTP makes inroads into Rajasthan politics

JAIPUR: Gujarat-based Bhartiya Tribal Party (

BTP

) has made inroads into Rajasthan politics in its maiden electoral battle. Formed in 2017 to safeguard the interest of tribals of the two states, the party won on two seats in Dungarpur while stood second in two other seats. Known for its aggressive approach, the party’ aims at having a separate homeland for the tribal population.

They party has claimed to be the part of UPA and has extended support to the Congress in the state.

The party has capitalised on the growing sentiment in the tribal region of the indifferent treatment by the main political parties over the years. They contested on 11 seats in both Dungarpur and Banswara seats. They, however, managed to win two seats. Rajkumar Roat of BTP defeated Sushil Katara of the BJP from Chorasi seat by a margin of 12,934 seats, while Ramprasad of BTP defeated Shankarlal by a margin of 4,582 votes from Sagwara assembly segment. They played a spoilsport for both BJP and the Congress in four seats.

The victory didn't come as a surprise for both main parties as even before the party was formed the tribal groups have built a momentum in their favour. The tone for the party's impact was evident as this year several students under the Bhil Pradesh Vidhyarthi Morcha secured victory. Vellaram Gogra, a BTP candidate who lost from Dungarpur expressed confidence that they will win one

Lok Sabha

seat.

BTP played on issues like mass migration, diluting culture and exploration of resources by the outsiders. They have objected to the intervention of outsiders like entrepreneurs, corporates and government bodies like forest have claimed their land.