The SC/ST Act has become a millstone around BJP’s neck in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. The anger of upper caste before the Mahakumbh is emerging as a huge challenge for the Bharatiya Janata party. Since the backward regions of upper caste and lower caste constitutes of 148 seats in the state, the party cannot afford to displease either of them.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan had a meeting with Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and BJP state president Rakesh Singh till late Friday night to discuss the matter at the chief minister’s residence. It was decided that the BJP will try to convince the protesters of Atrocity Act at any cost even if they have to bring in the senior leaders to take help to persuade people.
A matter of huge concern that became a part of two and a half hour discussion was that the Congress president’s visit in the state is taking place in the mid of the controversy, if Rahul Gandhi takes up the issue or show the black flag over SC/ST issue, the BJP and the state government will be held responsible for it.
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The main concern of the BJP leaders is the 148 seats of the backward region that will directly impact the seats with the upper castes. There are total 230 seats in legislative assembly of Madhya Pradesh. Out of which 148 seats belong to the general category whereas 82 seats belongs to the reserved class.
The BJP will now work to persuade those who oppose the Atrocity Act under the definitive strategy. Unfortunate to the BJP the party has lost its slogan of 200-plus in the protest. However, the question remains that would the protesters of SC/ST vote against BJP or in favour of Congress. It is where the BJP’s stand would be decided.
