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BTP to take on Congress, BJP in Udaipur division

JAIPUR: The Bharatiya Tribal Party ( BTP ) will take on Congress and BJP in the local body polls in Udaipur division (Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Banswara districts).


The party which was formed in 2017 won two seats in 2018 assembly polls with a vote share of 0.7% has emerged as a threat for the traditional parties.

It is now set to play spoilsport for BJP and Congress in municipal polls. Unlike the two major parties raising civic issues, the BTP is contesting the polls on the single agenda of land rights for tribal, separate statehood for tribals carving out of Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat .

Known for its radical statements, Rajasthan chief of BTP Vela Ram Ghogra is touring the tribal dominated areas mobilizing people for the polls. While explaining why local civic issues are non-issues for them in the local bodies polls, Ghogra said, “Our generations have survived without basic amenities and we can continue to live for another century but now we will not compromise with our rights and culture.”

The party is not expecting any miracle in the polls but its only aim to send its party men to local bodies. “Our aim to have our own representation in every local body board so that our voices can be heard. Once we will have our members, we will pitch in for our central demands like I have been raising at the state level,” said Rajkumar Roat (27), BTP MLA from Chorasi seat (Dungarpur). He is the youngest MLA in 16th state assembly.

Charting out the demands at a public rally in Salumbher (Udaipur) on Saturday, Ghogra said, “Extension of the area under the tribal sub plan (TSP) as per Census 2011, removal of villages included in the urban areas by carving it from TSP areas, two/third of the land or shops allotment should be reserved for tribal populace, direct disbursement of tribal students’ scholarship etc. These are our rights which we wanted without any delay.”

The party has been finalizing candidates on the basis of two qualities, education and fierce speaker. The last date of filing nomination papers is November 5. The party's radical views have polarised the Lok Sabha polls and even after a strong Modi wave it managed to grab 17.42% votes.

The census report says that total population of scheduled area is 64.63 lakh against the total scheduled tribes’ population of 45.57 lakh which constitute for about 70.43% of the total population.

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