The Bharatiya Janata Party’s senior tribal leader and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Vishnu Deo Sai, has proven to be a lucky charm for the BJP. Wherever Sai campaigned in Chhattisgarh and neighboring states during the Lok Sabha elections, the party has emerged victorious. Nationally, a significant portion of the BJP’s seats were secured in areas where Sai campaigned extensively. The party appears to have benefited from Sai’s status as a senior tribal leader in Central India. The BJP conducted an intense three-month campaign across tribal regions in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Telangana. Focusing on common regional issues, Sai effectively convinced voters that the BJP was best equipped to address tribal concerns. During the campaign, Sai emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to tribal interests, epitomized by the appointment of a tribal Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh, thereby reinforcing trust in the BJP’s promises for tribal welfare.

 

The BJP secured a total of 240 seats nationally, with 75 of those seats coming from tribal areas in central India. Sai began his campaign well before the election announcement, holding 109 public meetings and 17 road shows. Following the completion of the first three election phases in Chhattisgarh, he devoted himself entirely to campaigning in neighbouring states. Despite the intense summer heat, his helicopter was a constant presence in the election campaign. In the states where Sai led the campaign, the BJP achieved remarkable success. In Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the party achieved a near-total sweep, winning 10 out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh and all 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh. In Odisha, the BJP unseated the long-standing government of Naveen Patnaik, gaining power in the state assembly for the first time and securing 20 Lok Sabha seats.

 

The BJP also performed strongly in Jharkhand, winning 8 seats, and doubled its seats in Telangana, winning 8 seats. Sai campaigned in both border and interior regions of these states. In Madhya Pradesh, Sai campaigned in areas such as Singrauli, Sidhi, Shahdol, Mandla, Dindori, Katni, and Panna. Similarly, his campaigning extended to several districts in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. During the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP effectively projected Sai not only as the first tribal Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh but also capitalised on his extensive organisational experience as the former state BJP President. With a political career spanning from local Panchayat to Union Minister of State and four consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament from Raigarh, Sai brought substantial political acumen to the campaign. Sai hails from the Jashpur region of Chhattisgarh, which borders Odisha and Jharkhand, and is near Madhya Pradesh. His deep understanding of the culture and political dynamics of this region has been invaluable. The Bhadrachalam region of Telangana, adjacent to Chhattisgarh’s Konta and Sukma districts, shares similar tribal cultures and issues. This entire region is afflicted by Naxalism and has long demanded improved road and communication connectivity between the states.