The Minister from Madhya Pradesh, Vijay Shah, finds himself in hot water both politically and legally. After a statement involving Colonel Sophia Qureshi, a case has been filed following instructions from the High Court. The Supreme Court reprimanded him, questioning his language in an official capacity. The opposition Congress Party, demanding his resignation, has taken the matter to the Governor. Meanwhile, Pakistani media is leveraging his comments to propagate that minorities in India are being marginalized from mainstream society.
Trapped from all sides, Minister of Tribal Affairs Kunwar Vijay Shah met with Madhya Pradesh BJP President VD Sharma and offered an apology, albeit with a chuckle. He finds solace in the unwavering support from both the BJP and the Madhya Pradesh government. The question arises, why is the BJP hesitant to take action against Vijay Shah? This can be understood through four points.
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Influential Tribal Figure
Kunwar Vijay Shah, an eight-term legislator, hails from the tribal community and represents the reserved Harsud seat, despite BJP's average performance on ST seats in 2018. From the dense Khandwa region to a ministerial position, Shah has been pivotal even before BJP came to power in the state, credited for strengthening BJP's political roots within the tribal community.
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Tribal Vote Base
About 22% of Madhya Pradesh's voters belong to the tribal community. Of the reserved seats, 47 out of 230 in the state assembly are ST seats. Around 90 seats see tribal voters playing a decisive role. It's often stated that the state's political landscape is influenced by these voters, evidenced by results from the last two assembly elections.
In 2013, BJP's victory in 31 out of 47 ST seats led to a third term. In contrast, Congress ended its dry spell in 2018, winning 30 ST seats. Thus, BJP remains cautious not to alienate the tribal electorate by taking action against a leader like Vijay Shah. This concern was echoed in recent BJP meetings.
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Core Voter Base
Despite the BJP's leadership frowning upon Shah's remarks, from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to state President VD Sharma scrutinized the situation. National President JP Nadda also demanded reports. An outreach team visited Colonel Sophia's home. Six days have passed since the comment without action, though damage control efforts are ongoing. This reticence is seen as aligning with BJP's political strategy. While Shah's language might have been improper, his focus was on the staunch Hindu voter base, ensuring they remain loyal might be why the party is proceeding cautiously.
Read More: MP: Congress stages massive protest over Vijay Shah's controversial statement, demands resignation at Raj Bhawan
4-
Victory for the Opposition
BJP's reluctance to act against Vijay Shah also stems from fear that it may be perceived as a win for the opposition. According to an Indian Express report, a high-level meeting saw participation from state president VD Sharma, CM Mohan Yadav, organizational secretary Hitanand Sharma, among others. Leaders noted that the High Court hasn't insisted on resignation, hence it's unnecessary to emphasize it. Senior BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh believe the opposition could tout Shah's resignation nationwide as their triumph.
Read More: 'First seek Sidharmaiya's resignation...', CM Mohan Yadav reacts to queries on Vijay Shah issue
What was Vijay Shah's statement?
During an address, Vijay Shah referenced the Pahalgam terrorist attack and praised Operation Sindoor, without naming Colonel Sophia Qureshi, leading to an uproar. He highlighted the attack, claiming those who dishonored our daughters' sindoor were disciplined by sending their sisters. Leaders like former CM Uma Bharti, former minister Raghunandan Sharma, are pressing for action against Shah. In contrast, Union Minister Durgadas Uikey, minister Pratibha Bagri, and Bharat Tribal Party MLA Kamleshwar Dodiyar are standing by him.
