NASHIK, JULY 26: Efforts by some tribal leaders to float a new political party exclusively for the upliftment of tribals, the first of its kind in Maharashtra, has failed to take off, as the same leaders have chosen to affiliate themselves with conventional parties, as always.On Saturday, tribal politicians, including K C Padvi (independent MLA from Akrani, Dhule), Arjun Tulshiram Pawar (former tribal development minister and BJP MLA from Kalwan, Nashik) and Kachrubhau Raut (former BJP MP from Malegaon Nashik) were to formally announce the new tribal party.However, according to one of the convenors of the meeting which was to be held in K C Padvi's residence in Mumbai, Vikram Gaikwad, not even a single tribal leader turned up for the event. On the contrary, A T Pawar joined the Nationalist Congress Party on the same day.The tribal party had been planned by tribal leaders and non-tribal activists working in tribal regions of the State in May this year. After preliminary discussions with the leaders and elected representatives across the State, it was decided to organise a formal meeting in Nashik on June 5. The meeting was said to be a success as about 50 tribal leaders, including A T Pawar, K M C Padvi, Kachrubhau Raut and former Janata Dal MP Haribhau Mahale attended it. All the speakers had lambasted conventional parties for neglecting tribals. They had stressed the need to form a new political party exclusively for tribal welfare. The meeting had concluded with a decision to organise a meeting in Mumbai on July 24 to formally announce the formation of the new political outfit.On Saturday, a few tribal leaders like Dinesh Madavi (son of tribal leader fro Vidarbha Baburao Madavi) and Shankar Maraskolhe, along with some non-tribal leaders found that even tribal politicians like K C Padvi and A T Pawar had stayed away from the meet. Some of those present still felt that the party should be floated, irrespective of the lack of interest shown by tribal politicians. A meeting has been planned in Nagpur on August 8 to explore the possibility of floating the party.Meanwhile, Padvi has joined the Congress Party and is making efforts to secure a Lok Sabha ticket. A T Pawar, who had lambasted the Shiv Sena-BJP Government in the State after being dropped from Rane's newly constituted Cabinet, has left BJP and joined the Nationalist Congress Party. Another tribal leader, Govind Chaudhary (who was tribal development minister in Manohar Joshi's Cabinet, but was dropped) has also left the BJP, but is yet to announce his new affiliation. Former BJP MP from Malegaon, Kachrubhau Raut, who had advocated the formation of autonomous tribal councils in tribal regions, is yet to show interest in the formation of the party.According to sources, the major factor which has scuttled the plans of forming a tribal party is the exit of Sharad Pawar from the Congress and the formation of the Nationalist Congress Party. Incidentally, there are 4 Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly constituencies in the State reserved for tribals.
