Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district, where he will partake in the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremonies for development projects totaling Rs 7,550 crore. This visit holds particular significance, not only as it marks PM Modi's first visit to the state this year but also given the impending Lok Sabha elections in a few months.
Madhya Pradesh holds a noteworthy status in the context of Lok Sabha elections, boasting the highest number of reserved Lok Sabha seats for tribals, totaling six. With this backdrop, PM Modi's engagement in Jhabua aims to target Scheduled Tribe seats across three states, emphasizing the strategic importance of these constituencies.
In his address to the tribal community in Jhabua, PM Modi intends to underscore the various government schemes tailored for their benefit. Moreover, the rally serves as an opportunity for the BJP to make inroads into regions traditionally dominated by the Congress, exemplified by the Ratlam-Jhabua parliamentary seat, which has historically favored the Congress party.
The BJP's intensified focus on tribal voters stems from the outcome of the recent assembly elections, where despite a resounding victory overall, the party faced challenges in tribal regions. Out of the 47 Scheduled Tribe seats in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP secured 24 seats, trailing closely behind the Congress, which won 22 seats. This parity underscores the significance of tribal-majority constituencies and underscores the BJP's concerted efforts to garner support from the Adivasi community.
