BJP plays tribal card to woo rural voters in West Bengal

The BJP, trying to expand its base in the state, is sending its top tribal leaders to make a dent in Left Front's vote bank.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), desperately trying to expand its foothold in West Bengal, is sending its top tribal leaders to mobilise support in the state's rural belts.

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Senior leaders like Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda are campaigning hard in the state for the BJP and its allies -- and they say the response is "very good".

"I have addressed rallies in the tribal belts of Midnapore (west), Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts and the response to our party is very good," Oram said.

The BJP is hoping that the likes of Oram would be able to penetrate into these known leftist bastions, where the tribal population largely determines electoral results.

The BJP that piggy-rode the Trinamool Congress into West Bengal is yet to make a mark with most urban voters, but it is believed to be making headway in the state's tribal areas and border zones.

Ten out of West Bengal's 18 districts share their border with Bangladesh where illegal migration is being turned into a major issue by the BJP.

"The party has thought it fit to ask its tribal leaders to campaign in West Bengal's tribal areas," said Oram.

Munda has also been assigned to tour various parts of the state. Adding star attraction to their electioneering is film personality Suresh Oberoi.

The tribal belts of West Bengal, though traditionally held by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), are seeing the rise of Maoists, who have called a boycott of the elections.

The state votes on May 10 for its 42 parliamentary seats.

"The tribal people are an emotional lot. They are beginning to realise their exploitation at the hands of CPI-M cadres and also realise that their electoral powers are being violated," Oram said.

He said the BJP has promised tribesmen of West Bengal regular ration, power, water and houses.

"We have told the people that the federal tribal affairs ministry releases funds for their development, but the money is not utilised," Oram said.

"This deprivation will continue until you send BJP and its allies to parliament," Oram told public meetings in Midnapore (west) district's Sakua and Dhalbalu tribal-dominated villages.

Oram said the response to the BJP was good and "the result would have been better had we campaigned for a bit longer".