Saffron party loses 71 SC/ST seats it won in 2013 in 3 States
The BJP has lost its hold on the Assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) /Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Assembly results indicate that SC/ST and Dalit vote swung in favour of the Congress. As per Election Commission (EC) data, across Chhattisgarh, MP and Rajasthan, the BJP lost 71 of 137 reserved seats won by it in 2013. There are 166 seats reserved for SCs/STs in these three States.
In Chhattisgarh, MP and Rajasthan, where 43 per cent, 36 per cent, and 30 per cent seats are respectively reserved for SCs and STs, except for Rajasthan, the BJP recorded its worst performance in a decade, while the Congress recorded its best.
In Rajasthan, 59 of 200 Assembly seats are reserved for SCs/STs. Of them, 34 seats are reserved for the SCs and 25 for the STs. The Congress won 31 of these seats and the BJP’s tally came down to 21 from 50 in 2013. The ruling BJP paid for engaging people from the SCs/STs for the April 2 protests against perceived dilution of the SC/STs Act. A new tribal party Bahujan Tribal Party (BTP) won two seats in Dungarpur district. According to the 2011 census, SCs constitute 17.8 per cent and STs 13.5 per cent of the population in the State. Of 25 seats reserved for Adivasis, the BJP won 12 constituencies, while the Congress won 11.
The SCs are spread across seven divisions, especially northern and eastern parts in the State. The Congress won 7 out of 8 seats in Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Alwar, Jaipur and Dausa districts. On the other hand, the STs are concentrated in Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand and Chittorgarh districts that form the Mewar region. Both the Congress and the BJP focussed on the tribal heartland.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje launched her campaign from Charbhuja temple of Udaipur, while the Congress president held Sankalp rally in Sagwaraod Dungarpur.
In Chhattisgarh, 10 seats are reserved for SCs and 15 for STs (Adivasi). Besides, there are 14 seats where ST voters are deciding factors. The BJP’s popularity in 29 tribal-dominated constituencies further dwindled from 2013 level. The tribals in the State have voted against the BJP this time around. Seats for SCs/STs together account for 43 per cent of the State Assembly’s 90 seats.
The Congress won six seats while the BJP managed to retain only two of the 10 constituencies reserved for SCs. The BSP also won two seats. The party won 9 out of 10 in the in 2013 against the 5 it won in 2008.
As per results, the Congress won 18 seats, equalling the number it had won in 2013.
The Ajit Jogi-Mayawati alliance, which was eyeing 13 seats to play the kingmakers role, fell short of its target. Issues related to non-timber forest produce (NTFP) and their relation to women also seem to have played a role, according to experts.
In MP, there are 82 seats in reserved category. Of them, 35 are reserved for SCs while 47 for STs. The BJP recorded its worst performance in these constituencies, losing 25 of 82 reserved seats. The Congress gained 26 seats from these categories this year over 2013.
The BJP won 13 seats, 15 down from the 28 it had won in 2013 and 25 in 2008.
Congress this time made major gains in tribal-dominated Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Barwani and Khargone districts. It wrested four constituencies from BJP in Dhar and wiped out BJP from Jhabua and Alirajpur districts.
The impressive show was repeated in Khargone and Barwani where it trumpted BJP in eight constituencies. Obviously anti-incumbency went against the BJP in the region. Congress wooed tribal voters -- most of whom are indebted small land owners by focusing on new jobs and loan waiver. As per reports, many farmers stopped repaying loans soon after Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced plans to waive farm loans up to two lakh in 10 days after coming to power. There was strong sentiment against the BJP among tribals month before the polls were declared.
Of 678 seats in MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram -- the Congress won 305 seats and the BJP has won 199 seats. The Congress won Chhattisgarh with 67 of 90 seats (from 39 in 2013) and Rajasthan by winning 99 of 199 (from 21 in 2013), MP went to the wire with the Congress on 114 (from 58 in 2013) and the BJP on 109 (from 165 in 2013).
