NAGPUR MARCH 16: Tribal leader Baburao Madavi has sought to clarify that he is a staunch Congressman and that he worked for the victory of Congress candidates in Vidarbha.Before the elections, Madavi, a former minister and General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, had announced the formation of the Mul-nivasi Mukti Morcha. This was purportedly a political outfit out to capture the tribal vote and send their representatives to the Parliament.
The basis on which Madavi had formed the party was the neglect of tribals by political parties in allotting election tickets. He had asserted that neglected and unrepresented, the tribals would form a pressure group to influence the policies of all parties regarding their welfare and progress.
However, just before the election, Madavi announced his resignation from the presidentship of the Mul-nivasi Mukti Morcha. In his letter of resignation, he pointed out that his political career was born in the Congress and would end in that party. Heexpressed his inability to remain out of the Congress.
But even before he resigned, Madavi had already announced his morcha's support to the Congress-RPI candidates at 10 of the 11 seats in Vidarbha. The remaining one, Chimur, was being contested by the Morcha's own candidate, Sukhdeo Uike. Madavi informs that after an extensive tour of the Chimur constituency, he came to the conclusion that Uike did not stand a chance to win.
He communicated this to Uike through a letter and asked him to withdraw from the contest. He also explained to Uike that the Congress workers were sincerely and enthusiastically working for the victory of candidates from the backward classes and the need of the hour was to strengthen their hands.
In a release issued here, Madavi informs that Uike did not pay heed and refused to back out from the election. Madavi says, he then embarked on an extensive tour of the villages in Chimur constituency, trying to convey the message that the tribals were not to vote for Uike.
He claimsthat the 1,500 or so votes with which the Congress-RPI candidate, Jogendra Kawade, won were thanks to his last minute efforts. He has also sought to share the credit of Naresh Pugalia's victory from Chandrapur, another constituency with sizeable tribal population.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
