Jharkhand Assembly Election: BJP Pinning High Hopes On Its Tribal Outreach In Poll-Bound State

After appointing a tribal leader to head its first government in Odisha, BJP has announced plans to establish a grand memorial in Sundargarh district to honour tribal icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda, in celebration of his birth anniversary.

This move is seen as an effort to strengthen the party's support among the tribal communities in Odisha, who make up nearly 23% of the state's population, reported the Indian Express.

Photo Credit: PTI

The memorial will include a 150-foot tall statue of Birsa Munda, along with an interpretation centre, a convention hall, a souvenir shop, and landscaped gardens. The state's Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe department is currently identifying an appropriate plot of land for the project.

In a letter to the Sundargarh district collector, state SC/ST secretary Bishnupada Sethi requested that the chosen land should have a scenic setting. The foundation stone for the memorial is set to be laid on November 15, Birsa Munda's birth anniversary, which has been celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas by the Narendra Modi government since 2021.

The choice of Sundargarh district for the memorial is noteworthy, as it borders Jharkhand and is near Ulihatu, Birsa Munda's birthplace in Khunti district.

Jharkhand is set to hold Assembly elections soon, where BJP will face off against JMM chief and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, one of the country's most prominent tribal leaders.

This initiative represents another step in the BJP's ongoing efforts to highlight its commitment to tribal pride. It follows other actions such as nominating Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman from Mayurbhanj, as President of India.

"Unlike Congress, which plays politics in the name of adivasis, the BJP has upheld tribal dignity and pride. This proposed memorial will further that cause," stated a BJP leader.

While tribals make up 23% of Odisha's population, 33 of the 147 seats in the state assembly are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. The BJP already has a solid base in tribal constituencies in Mayurbhanj but aims to strengthen its position in Sundargarh.

The party continues to face challenges in gaining ground in the tribal constituencies of undivided Koraput district, where Congress and Biju Janata Dal maintain a strong presence.