CM Hemant Soren skips tribal rally but backs fight against delimitation, Congress leads show of strength
SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA Ranchi, August 30: The political battle over the proposed delimitation exercise intensified in Jharkhand on Sunday, with the Congress…
SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, August 30: The political battle over the proposed delimitation exercise intensified in Jharkhand on Sunday, with the Congress leading a major tribal mobilisation at Morabadi Ground and the Church openly backing the rally, while Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who the organisers had invited as the chief guest, chose not to attend the gathering.
Soren, however, did not distance himself from the mobilisation’s central demand. He sent a message to the rally, which was read out by MLA Vikas Munda, pledging to remain united with the tribal community in opposing any move that could lead to a reduction in Scheduled Tribe-reserved seats.
The Chief Minister also recalled the 2007 delimitation exercise, saying that tribal unity had then helped stop the process and stressing that a similar show of unity would be required again to protect tribal political representation.
Soren skips rally, attends Risaldar Baba Urs
While the Adivasi Ekta Mahajutan was underway at Morabadi, Soren attended the 219th Urs of Hazrat Qutubuddin Risaldar Baba at the shrine in Doranda, Ranchi.
The Chief Minister offered a ceremonial chadar at the shrine and prayed for the state’s happiness, peace, prosperity and progress.
Speaking on the occasion, Soren said the teachings of Hazrat Qutubuddin Risaldar Baba conveyed the message of love, brotherhood, humanity and mutual harmony. He also prayed for stronger social harmony and unity among the people of Jharkhand.
His decision to attend the Urs instead of the Morabadi gathering came despite the organisers having invited him to participate as the chief guest.
CM’s message backs tribal unity
Although Soren was absent from the stage, his message delivered at the rally carried a clear political signal.
The Chief Minister backed the demand that tribal representation should not be reduced during delimitation and called for continued unity among tribal communities.
Recalling the 2007 episode, Soren said collective tribal mobilisation had played a role in preventing an adverse outcome at that time. He suggested that the same unity would be necessary to safeguard the community’s political representation in the future.
The message allowed Soren to support the principal demand of the gathering without physically sharing the platform with the Congress-led mobilisation.
Congress turns delimitation into tribal rights battle
The Congress used the Morabadi gathering to project delimitation as a larger battle over tribal representation, constitutional safeguards and Jharkhand’s identity.
The principal demand was that there should be no reduction in ST-reserved seats in the state. Speakers also demanded that if the total number of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies is increased, tribal representation should rise proportionately.
Congress leaders and tribal organisations argued that Jharkhand’s unique circumstances—including Fifth Schedule areas, tribal demography, historical displacement, land alienation and migration—must be taken into account while determining future political representation.
Senior Congress leaders including K. Raju, Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, Bandhu Tirkey, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Pradeep Yadav and Subodh Kant Sahay attended the gathering.
Church openly backs rally
The Church’s role was another significant feature of the mobilisation.
Archbishop Vincent Aind had appealed to believers to attend the Adivasi Ekta Mahajutan, providing open institutional support for the rally.
Tribal Christian leaders and representatives participated in the gathering, and several speakers launched strong attacks on the Centre and the BJP over delimitation and issues relating to tribal land, forests, minerals and political representation.
The speeches from some sections of the tribal Christian community were particularly sharp, accusing the Centre of pursuing policies that they claimed could weaken tribal constitutional safeguards and political representation.
The Church-backed participation gave the Congress-led mobilisation an additional social dimension and helped bring sections of the tribal Christian community into the campaign.
Rahul Gandhi sends message
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was not present at the rally, also sent a message that was read out before the gathering.
Gandhi expressed solidarity with tribal communities and stressed the need to protect their rights, identity and dignity.
Referring to tribal leader Jaipal Singh Munda, he recalled the contribution of tribal representatives to the Constituent Assembly and highlighted constitutional safeguards meant to protect tribal interests.
He referred to the Fifth Schedule, PESA and the Forest Rights Act, arguing that communities which have historically protected jal, jungle and zameen should have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their land and resources.
Gandhi also cautioned against development that results in displacement and called for greater participation and consent of affected communities.
28 ST seats at heart of delimitation concern
The existing 28 Assembly constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand were at the centre of the mobilisation.
Tribal activist Dayamani Barla demanded that existing ST representation should not be reduced and argued that the number of reserved seats should increase proportionately if the total number of constituencies is expanded.
Speakers said population changes should not result in Jharkhand’s tribal communities becoming politically weaker.
They also demanded stronger safeguards for Fifth Schedule areas, action against illegal transfer of tribal land and restoration of alienated land to its original owners.
Bandhu Tirkey attacks Centre
Congress leader Bandhu Tirkey launched a strong attack on the BJP-led Centre, linking the delimitation issue with the broader question of tribal rights over land, forests and mineral resources.
He argued that Jharkhand’s special constitutional and demographic circumstances should be considered before changes are made to the state’s political representation.
Tirkey also raised the issue of the state’s alleged outstanding royalty and other dues from the Centre, connecting it with Jharkhand’s wider economic rights.
Congress state president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh invoked Jharkhand’s history of tribal resistance and said any attempt to dilute constitutional protections would face opposition.
Demands go beyond delimitation
The organisers’ demands extended beyond the question of constituency boundaries.
They sought proportionate enhancement of ST representation if the number of constituencies increases, stronger protection for Fifth Schedule areas, action against illegal tribal land transfers and restoration of alienated land.
The rally also raised issues of displacement, rehabilitation and compensation for people affected by mining and development projects.
Migration and demographic changes were also cited as issues that need to be examined while determining Jharkhand’s future political map.
Soren’s absence adds political intrigue
Soren’s decision to skip a rally for which he had been invited as chief guest, while simultaneously sending a message supporting its central demand, added a layer of political intrigue to the mobilisation.
His presence at the Risaldar Baba Urs kept him away from the Congress-led platform, but his reference to the 2007 delimitation battle and pledge of tribal unity ensured that his political position on the issue was unmistakable.
For the Congress, meanwhile, the rally was an opportunity to position itself at the forefront of the opposition to any reduction in tribal representation.
With Soren backing the tribal demand, Rahul Gandhi extending support, the Church openly encouraging participation and Congress leaders mounting a sustained attack on the Centre, delimitation is emerging as a potentially major political fault line in Jharkhand.
