The BJP's Malda district unit brought Babulal Marandi, the former chief minister of Jharkhand, to unveil a statue of a prominent tribal face who had contributed to the Santhal rebellion against the British.

The move is being seen as an attempt to consolidate the votes of the tribal community and other backward classes in the district which has a minority population of around 52 per cent.

In Malda, tribals and other backward classes form a considerable part of the vote bank, especially in northern parts of the district. In 2019, the BJP won the Malda North Parliament seat and it is evident that the party is desperate to retain it.

Marandi, along with BJP’s state chief Sukanta Majumdar and other party leaders, reached Kendpukur crossing, a tribal belt in Habibpur block of Malda. There, they unveiled the statue of Jitu Hembram and said that from now on, the crossing would be known as Jitu More.

Marandi, while speaking on the occasion, claimed that the BJP-led central government recognised and honoured the tribal community in various ways.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has high esteem for our community. The country got its first tribal woman president in this regime. We cannot forget that Jitu Hembram's name is uttered with equal reverence along with other tribal icons like Sidhu, Kanu, Birsa Munda, Tilka Majhi and others,” he said.

“I am honoured and grateful that I have been asked to be present at the inauguration of the statue of a person who laid his life fighting for the rights and dignity of our community,” he added.

Majumdar, the state BJP president, was quick to use the occasion to seek votes from the tribal community for Khagen Murmu. Murmu won the seat in 2019 and has been fielded by BJP again.

“Jitu Hembram was a victim of the treachery of the British-sponsored landlords and was gunned down by them. History does not speak much about such a brave tribal commander. This is high time to exercise your rights and elect the representative of your community Khagen Murmu, who has been working for you,” said Majumdar, who is also contesting from the neighbouring Balurghat Lok Sabha seat for the second time.

Murmu, the MP, also elaborated on the initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government for the socio-economic development of the tribal community.

Political veterans opined that the time of inaugurating the statue was conspicuously chosen by the BJP to garner support.

In Malda north, Murmu, the BJP candidate is the only tribal contestant from this seat. Trinamul has fielded an ex-IPS officer while Congress and the Left, who have not fielded candidates, have a very feeble presence in the Habibpur, Bamangola and Gazole blocks of the constituency.

“There is no wonder that BJP would leave no stone unturned to capitalize the tribal sentiment and their support,” said a senior political leader.

Prasun Banerjee, the Trinamul candidate, however, sounded unperturbed.

“Jitu Hembram is undoubtedly a revered icon. But the question is why the BJP is remembering him ahead of the elections. People of tribal communities are well aware of the slew of initiatives taken by the state government for them,” he said.