Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has increased his political activities in Madhya Pradesh, making two visits to the state within 12 days. On October 1, he reached Jagla village in Balaghat and met Baiga tribal families, while the issues of people affected by the Ken-Betwa project have also been among the issues he has raised.
The deaths of tribal children in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, have been under discussion for some time. On October 1, Rahul Gandhi visited Jagla village in the Birsa block over the issue. He met Baiga tribal families and spoke with relatives who had lost their children during illness. Around 1,500 villagers from nearby areas were also present when he arrived.
Rahul Gandhi sat among the affected families and heard their concerns. During the interaction, he asked questions related to healthcare facilities, education, employment, forest rights and access to government schemes. He said he would raise the matter in Parliament.
Before reaching Balaghat, Rahul Gandhi had also said in a social media post that he would meet tribal families and raise their issues. During the visit, he questioned the government over the deaths of the children. These were his political allegations; the state government and administration have also presented a different position on the issue.
Rahul Gandhi's Balaghat visit also drew attention because it was his second visit to Madhya Pradesh within about 12 days. He had earlier reached Indore on September 19, where issues related to tribal students and youth had also come up. His Balaghat visit was the second visit to the BJP-ruled state in that period.
After reaching Jagla village in Balaghat, Rahul Gandhi directly interacted with tribal families. His recent activities in Madhya Pradesh have included issues related to health, education, employment and tribal rights.
Tribal issues are part of Madhya Pradesh's political landscape because of the state's tribal population and the number of Assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes. The state has 47 Assembly seats reserved for the ST category.
Rahul Gandhi's activities related to Madhya Pradesh have not been limited to Balaghat. The issues of people affected by the Ken-Betwa river-linking project have also remained among the matters raised by him. Affected families have raised questions related to land, rehabilitation and compensation.
Local protests and objections regarding the Ken-Betwa project have also emerged in the Panna region. Problems faced by people affected by the project have been linked to broader issues concerning the environment, displacement and tribal rights in Madhya Pradesh. Reports have also documented concerns among affected families over compensation lists, payments and the verification of claims.
Rahul Gandhi's efforts to take these issues to Delhi and interact with affected people have taken place at a time when various political parties in Madhya Pradesh are increasing their organisational activities.
Rahul Gandhi's recent activities have included the deaths of children in Balaghat and issues concerning tribal healthcare on one hand, and questions raised by people affected by the Ken-Betwa project on the other. In both cases, the issues of local communities have been raised at the national level.
The impact of these visits on the political position of the BJP or Congress in Madhya Pradesh can be assessed only on the basis of future political developments. At present, Rahul Gandhi's recent public activities in the state have focused on issues related to tribal communities, health, education, employment and displacement.
