Nashik: Organisations representing the state’s tribal people have come together to field candidates for the each of the four parliamentary constituencies reserved for scheduled tribes in the state in the Lok Sabha elections. The group says it has always been marginalized, and are out to right that wrong.Seven candidates will be fielded this time, including three from non-tribal areas.“Though, only a tribal is elected from the reserved seat, the elected person does not have any say in the government as he or she belongs to a ‘national’ or ‘state’ level party dominated by non-tribals. We want our own person in Parliament and in the state assembly this time,” Lucky Jadhav, president of Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, said.Interestingly, Jadhav owes allegiance to a senior leader from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), former minister Madhukar Pichad.Jadhav said tribal representatives elected so far have not looked beyond their own development. They have failed to represent the group they claim to represent and have worked only for their own enrichment, he said. With this new party, he says, that picture will change, once and for all.“Elected representatives from other political parties have been carrying on their party agenda instead of the tribal agenda. Tribals are only offered whatever suits the political party that these members represent, not the community. The actual demands of tribals themselves have never been met,” Jadhav said.Tribal organisations have been vociferously opposing the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme introduced by the BJP government as their experience of it is only increased hardship to claim what they are entitled to. Besides, money transfer has left them having to purchase things at market prices, and that has worked to their disadvantage.“We had 24 MLAs and three MPs but none of them were found raising their voice against the government in all the hardships faced by tribals. We will have a candidate each in Palghar, Dindori, Gadchiroli and Nandurbar, besides contesting in three non-tribal areas including Hingoli, Dhule and Jalgaon,” Jadhav said.Adivasi Yuvak-Vidyarthi Samiti also had, in the beginning of March, announced that it would field one candidate on every tribal seat to ensure real development of tribals.The Samiti vowed to field one candidate in Dindori, Palghar, Nandurbar and Gadchiroli along with Hingoli.“In Nashik we have extended our support to JP Gavit of Communist Party of India –Marxist (CPI-M) while in Palghar we will support Adivasi Ekta Parishad candidate,” Madan Pathve, of the organisation said.Asked if the the students’ organisation would support the Parishad, Pathve said, “We have our own agenda. We will carry on with it. We are not joining hands with any other organisation.”

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