Almost a year after BJP swept elections in tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh, the party’s manifesto for Jharkhand assembly election, launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, reflects how the latter is almost a strategic iteration of their Chhattisgarh manifesto, emphasising key issues of infiltration, religious conversion, financial assistance to women and tribal land rights.
According to the senior BJP leaders of Jharkhand, who worked on designing the election manifesto, the party seeks to appeal to Jharkhand’s significant tribal and rural base, with a tailored set of promises that reflects both local anxieties and national priorities. There are reasons behind some of the “promises" that brought major electoral success for the party to be taken from Chhattisgarh’s Sankalp Patra (manifesto) and made better.
In both Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, the BJP’s manifestos emphasise several promises that align closely, indicating a unified strategic approach. Central to both is the commitment to addressing issues around religious conversions, which the party frames and is trying to portray as a matter of safeguarding tribal identities and their cultural heritage. Starting from a promise to review the long-pending Sarna Religious Code Demand to a decision to exempt tribal communities from the purview of the UCC — BJP seems to be making a renewed outreach in its erstwhile tribal voter base.
Financial assistance to women forms another important pillar of similarity. In both states, BJP has committed to empowering women through targeted welfare schemes, including financial support.
Twice the cash aid for women in Jharkhand
BJP’s Gogo Didi scheme in Jharkhand and Mahtari Vandan Yojana in Chhattisgarh are nearly identical welfare programmes aimed at providing direct financial assistance to women. However, the Jharkhand version significantly ups the ante, doubling the assistance amount given in Chhattisgarh from Rs 12,000 yearly to Rs 2,100 monthly for women in the state. This increase is a strategic move to broaden the party’s appeal by addressing economic challenges faced by women, especially in rural and tribal areas, with greater financial support.
A senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity explained that the party’s internal survey revealed the ‘electoral possibilities’ of announcing a financial assistance scheme for women in the state.
“In the current political scenario, our multiple ground surveys across the rural tribal heartland showed that the financial assistance schemes monthly or yearly always work in favour of the political party. In addition, we have success stories from Chhattisgarh, as the state government has released funds for almost 70 lakh women beneficiaries as promised," said the senior BJP leader.
From Reforms to Socialism
Politically, such schemes and the subsequent shift from its earlier policies reflect a striking evolution in the BJP’s positioning. Traditionally seen as a party focused on structural, non-populist reforms, the BJP is moving towards a more socialist and welfare-centric approach.
While the party has historically championed market-friendly policies, schemes like Gogo Didi and Mahtari Vandan mark a clear pivot toward direct government support for marginalised groups, challenging perceptions of the BJP as solely reformist.
This approach seems aimed at countering the Opposition’s narrative of the BJP being focused disproportionately on urban or elite. The shift in policy further appeals to the rural and tribal heartlands where economic assistance is a key electoral currency.
This doubled financial commitment to women in Jharkhand also signals that the BJP is testing a deeper welfare strategy to resonate more intensely with grassroots voters. By amplifying the assistance amount, the BJP positions itself as responsive to localised needs and increasingly open to embracing welfare economics, stepping away from its historical resistance to populist policies. This dual play —retaining reformist credentials while ramping up welfare — suggests the party is recalibrating to meet evolving voter demands, preparing for battles in diverse electoral landscapes across India.
Conversion – the common ground
The party has also promised strict laws against forced conversions in Jharkhand, a stance that resonates with its successful messaging in Chhattisgarh, where they pledged similar measures. This anti-conversion stance has been highlighted as a protective measure for tribal communities, portraying the BJP as a guardian of indigenous rights and traditions.
Infiltration is another significant focus in both manifestos, reflecting the BJP’s position on border security and internal stability. The Enforcement Directorate, along with other central agencies, has already initiated a probe into the cases of infiltration and illegal rackets that facilitate such illegal migration.
In Jharkhand, the manifesto promises to strengthen measures to prevent illegal migration which, the BJP claims, disrupt local demographics and threaten security. This echoes the manifesto in Chhattisgarh, where the BJP pledged increased surveillance and border security to address the same concerns. By aligning both states’ security concerns with national interests, BJP aims to position itself as the only party capable of ensuring safety and stability.
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