Jharkhand: Tana Bhagat leader joins BJP, cuts century-old ties with Congress

RANCHI: A section of Tana Bhagats of Jharkhand, the traditional supporters Congress, have shifted their allegiance to BJP. On Tuesday, Ganga Tana Bhagat, the national leader of the community that holds Gandhian ideals as its religion and Mahatma Gandhi as their God, joined BJP.
Ganga, a resident of Baridih village in Bero Block of Ranchi district and a former Congress MLA till 1985, told TOI, "Congress does not reflect nationalistic ideals any more.It instead runs after regional parties to remain in power. We have shifted allegiance to BJP because it has a nationalistic outlook and has development as its main objective. BJP has also set up the Tana Bhagat Development Authority for us."
Ganga crossed over to the saffron party in presence of Rajya Sabha MP from Chhattisgarh, Ramvichar Netam, who is also BJP's Jharkhand co-incharge, and Arun Oraon, who has been recently appointed as national vice-president of the party's ST committee.
Tana Bhagats worship the national flag, albeit with a difference. The Tricolour they look up to has a charkha. Though members of the Oraon tribe, Tana Bhagats are Gandhians who do not follow any religion. A few members of the Oraon tribe joined a tribal freedom fighter Jatra Bhagat, who stood for non-violence, and in 1914, the Tana Bhagat community came into being. The fast depleting population of Tana Bhagats resides in eight districts with the largest chunk of the community in Gumla, Hazaribag, Palamu and Ranchi.
Ganga said, "BJP stands for Gandhian ideals reflected through the Swatchhata Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister. Narendra Modi. The Raghubar Das government's policies are pro-tribal and pro-development. My community had supported me in 1985 and our leaders had permitted me to join politics. Even now, my community has supported me to shift my allegiance to BJP."
Ganga is also a member of the Tana Bhagat Development Authority. BJP spokesperson Shivpujan Pathak said, "For long, Tana Bhagats have sworn allegiance to Congress, but they were neglected. The Das government has undertaken several significant measures to improve their quality of life. Today, Ganga joined BJP and this move clearly shows that even Tana Bhagats have lost hope on Congress."
Congress spokesperson Rajesh Gupta hit back and said, "BJP is trying to derail the nationalistic fervour of Tana Bhagats by luring them with false promises. This community is the only one in the state which lives by Gandhian ideologies and now BJP is trying to sway their faith with money power. However, just one person joining BJP does not change anything. The entire community is still with Congress."