Madhya Pradesh assembly elections 2018: Will GGP upset Congress, BJP calculations in Mahakaushal?

BHOPAL: Can a united Gondwana Party make a difference in the tribal belt of eastern

Madhya Pradesh

?


The question assumes significance after a patch-up and merger of three Gondwana factions, which fought the assembly election in 2018 under the banner of Gondwana Gantantra Party (

GGP

). The party entered an alliance with Samajwadi Party (SP) and fielded 76 candidates in the election. In 2013, each faction fought the election separately, affecting vote share.

In eight districts of Mahakaushal region, five are tribal-dominated. Political analysts believe if a united GGP repeats its performance of 2003 state assembly polls wherein the tribal outfit had wrested three seats despite a strong BJP wave, it could well upset calculations of the two major parties — BJP and the Congress.

In 2003 state assembly election, the GGP had given indication of an emergence of a new political force in Mahakaushal region when it had won one seat each in Chhindwara, Seoni and Balaghat districts. It fielded candidates on 80 seats in the state and on three seats of the Mahakaushal region the party won —one seat each in Chhindwara, Balaghat and Seoni districts. In three more seats, its candidates stood second. Its overall vote share was 3.23%.

But then, the party broke up with ruling BJP and main Opposition party Congress playing an active role to see a separate tribal party did not come up.

In 2008 election, two factions of Gondwana Party — Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) and Gondwana Mukti Sena (GMS) were in the fray. GGP had fielded 86 candidates and GMS, 92. With the vertical split in the party, Gondwana Party lost ground and GGP vote share also fell to only 1.80%. None of candidates from both outfits had won the election either.

In 2013, the situation became even worse for the tribal party with the presence of another outfit— Bharatiya Gondwana Party (BGP)—in poll fray —apart from the GGP and GMS. GGP had fielded candidates on 64 seats, GMS on six seats and BGP on 31seats. Vote share of GGP in the election was further reduced: to one%.

Realising they could become a political force to reckon with if they stay united, all three factions merged in GGP ahead of 2018 election and entered an alliance with the Samajwadi Party to garner extra votes, particularly of non-tribals. This kindled hope in GGP sympathisers the party might make a comeback in the election in tribal belt of Mahakaushal and be in a position to play some role in government formation following keenly-fought election.
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