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Polity, Governance and Current Affairs

Regional and Third Parties

Rajasthan: Political Parties, Coalition Politics

Paper III · Unit 1 Section 4 of 11 0 PYQs 24 min
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Regional and Third Parties

3.1 Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP) — The New Tribal Force

Formation and Context

BAP was formally registered as a political party in 2023, immediately before the Assembly elections. Its founder, Rajkumar Roat (Member of the Rajasthan Assembly from Bagidora, Banswara), had previously been elected as an independent candidate in 2018 on tribal rights and land rights issues.

The Bhil community (the largest ST group in Rajasthan, concentrated in Banswara, Dungarpur, Sirohi, and Rajsamand) had historically voted for Congress or left parties. Dissatisfaction with both Congress and BJP's implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 and PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) created political space for a new force.

2023 Election Performance

  • Contested 21 seats in Rajasthan
  • Won 3 seats: Bagidora (Rajkumar Roat himself), Chorasi, Garhi
  • Vote share: ~0.9% overall; 20–30%+ in contested tribal constituencies
  • Also contested in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh — performing best in Rajasthan

Ideological Platform

  • Implementation of PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act 1996)
  • Full implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 for tribal pattas (title deeds)
  • Reservation of senior administrative posts in tribal areas for ST officers
  • Tribal language (Bhili, Garasia) education in schools
  • Opposition to land acquisition for mining and industrial projects in tribal areas

National significance: BAP's emergence was asked in the 2023 RPSC Mains exam (2 marks: "Explain BAP's performance in the 2023 Rajasthan election") — confirming its exam relevance.

3.2 Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP)

Origins and Leadership

Founded by Hanuman Beniwal (Khinwsar constituency, Nagaur) in 2018 after he left BJP. Beniwal represents the Jat community's assertive political voice in Nagaur, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu regions. RLP was part of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections but broke ranks in 2020–21 over the three farm laws, strongly opposing them alongside the farmers' protest movement.

2023 Performance and Alliance Tactics

RLP won 1 seat (Beniwal from Khinwsar) and contested 19 seats. Its Lok Sabha alliance strategy (allied with Congress-INDIA bloc in 2024) reflects tactical flexibility over ideology — RLP positions itself wherever Jat community interests are best served.

Organizational base: Primarily Jat-community networks in Nagaur and Sikar regions; student organization connections; farmer protest legacy.

3.3 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Rajasthan

BSP won 2 seats in the 2023 election (Bandikui and Sahada constituencies). It has historically been more significant in Rajasthan than its seat tally suggests — BSP candidates regularly damage Congress in SC-concentrated constituencies by splitting the anti-BJP vote.

Mayawati alliance dynamics: BSP in Rajasthan has alternated between electoral alliances (with Congress, with SP, standalone) depending on national BSP strategy — creating tactical complications for Congress's seat consolidation in each election cycle.

3.4 Left Parties

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and CPI have historical roots in Rajasthan, particularly in Alwar's industrial belt, Sikar's farmer protest tradition (Sikar Revolt 1934, Shekhawati peasant movements), and tribal belt constituencies. Their electoral base has shrunk dramatically since the 1980s:

  • CPI-M: Won seats in 1970s–80s in Alwar, Sikar; now marginal
  • CPI: Negligible presence; occasionally fields candidates in mining areas
  • Both parties support Congress in Rajasthan's anti-BJP alliance politics