Jaipur: Urban local body polls in Rajasthan’s tribal belt have emerged as a three-way prestige battle for BJP, Congress and Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), with the results likely to test their organisational strength and provide an early indicator of the shifting political balance in southern Rajasthan.For BAP, the biggest test is for MP Rajkumar Roat, who has stepped up attacks on BJP and Congress over alleged underdevelopment in the tribal belt. A strong performance would help Roat consolidate his position as the region’s principal tribal leader and give BAP momentum ahead of the rural local body elections.“A strong showing in the urban and rural body polls would strengthen Roat’s hold over tribal politics and put both Congress and BJP under pressure ahead of 2028,” said a political analyst.Congress, meanwhile, faces a test of Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya’s organisational influence after his return to the party. Malviya had switched to BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections but returned to Congress later. Since his return, he has reactivated his organisational network, played a role in ticket distribution and worked to pacify rebels.“The urban polls will be an important test of Malviya’s organisational influence after his return to Congress. His performance will also have a bearing on how the party assesses his role ahead of the 2028 assembly elections,” a Congress functionary said.For BJP, the focus is on ministers Babulal Kharadi and Hemant Meena, who have been put at the forefront of the campaign. The ruling party is seeking not just to win municipal boards but also to contain BAP’s expansion and strengthen its political narrative in the tribal belt.“The outcome will reflect not only the impact of Kharadi and Meena but also serve as a verdict on the Bhajan Lal Sharma govt,” a source said.The contest assumes significance as BAP has emerged as a serious political force in southern Rajasthan. Roat defeated Malviya by more than two lakh votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Banswara, while BAP subsequently made its presence felt in other contests.The seven urban local bodies in the core tribal belt—Banswara, Kushalgarh, Partapur-Garhi, Dungarpur, Sagwara, Pratapgarh and Chhoti Sadri—offer a relatively small electoral sample, but their outcome could carry significance beyond the municipal polls.
