BHOPAL: Aware that Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) alliance can come about soon, the state BJP is learned to have revised its strategy to rope in SC and tribal voters.

The party has readied a special workforce in the areas dominated by two marginalised sections under its rural and urban outreach programme. The workforce will discuss and clarify the party’s stand on issues like reservation.

“Two major issues are to be addressed at once. One is agitation and repercussions of violent incidents against members of SC category in Gwalior-Chambal region in April this year. The party has decided to talk to both pro and anti-reservation groups represented by AJAKS and SAPAKS to convince them. A team of 46 leaders has already begun this campaign,” disclosed a senior BJP state functionary.

The team comprises Union ministers, state ministers, MPs, and MLAs besides, party office-bearers from districts and the state. A two-member group will hold the responsibility of two or three districts to interact and discuss issues with voters. Local workers and Sangh Parivar volunteer from the area would help by organizing ‘social harmony feasts’ and village-level meetings.

“In Gwalior-Chambal region, a special drive is launched to provide compensation to victims of pro-reservation agitation. The government has also withdrawn minor cases against agitators. In Mahakaushal region, the impact of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ has created a flutter among opponents. The party is ready to focus on voters in each constituency as per their demands,” sources said.

BJP leaders observed after agitation of members of SC category, the Congress played a major role to misguide and misinform people against saffron groups. In 2013, of the 35 SCs seats, the BJP won 30 and the BSP bagged three and Congress won only two seats. In STs seats, of the total 47, the BJP bagged 32 and the Congress wrested 15 on the basis of its influence.

After staying out of power for last 15 years, the Congress is not in a position to make a dent in BJP’s bastion and is looking for an alliance with the BSP or the SP. The ally can influence 90 seats, where SCs, STs and OBCs voters play a decisive role, sources said.

“The party has decided to field candidates purely on winnability. During the campaign, the BJP and the RSS workers will launch a door-to-door drive to convince and assist the reserved class voters avail the benefit of welfare schemes. Programmes for farmers, benefits of MSP and electricity tariff waiver (Sambal) schemes will help pacify the voters belonging to SC category,” said sources in BJP.

“People’s response to ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ of the CM in Mahakaushal has jolted rival political groups. Prominent leaders of Congress are losing ground in the area. There is no challenge from any alliance. The CM had also rejected the influence of any political party based on caste. Here, only development agenda will work,” said BJP state chief spokesperson Deepak Vijayavargiya.

