Newly-formed Bharatiya Adivasi Party's Rajkumar Roat wins Chorasi seat with record 69k margin

The Election Commission of India declared Rajkumar Roat, the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) candidate, as the victor of the Chorasi assembly constituency in Rajasthan on Sunday, December 3. This announcement marked the initial election outcome in the state following polling on 199 seats out of 200 in the House on November 25.

The victory margin and his political journey

Rajkumar Roat clinched the seat with a lead, securing 1,11,150 votes, ‘triumphing’ with a margin of 69,166 votes, as per the Election Commission's official announcement.

Roat's emergence onto the political stage stemmed from the vibrant and diverse landscape of Rajasthan. Born on June 26, 1992, in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, Roat belongs to the Bhil tribal community, embodying a profound connection within the state's rich cultural tapestry.

His political journey commenced with a ‘historic’ win as the youngest Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) during the 2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly elections. Representing the Chorasi constituency, Roat secured support, prevailing by an impressive margin of 14,000 votes under the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) banner.

Transition to Bhartiya Adivasi Party (BAP) and political commitment

Roat's trajectory in politics underwent a transformation in 2023 when he established the Bhartiya Adivasi Party (BAP) subsequent to parting ways with the Bharatiya Tribal Party. This move signalled a new chapter in his political narrative, underscoring his ‘commitment’ to advancing the interests of the Bhil tribal community and the constituents within Rajasthan.

Alliance prospects and tribal quotas

According to reports, Roat had previously stated that leaders from both the BJP and the Congress had approached them seeking their support. Refraining from divulging specific names at present, Roat asserted that once the results are official, discussions will be initiated to decide on alliances. He  underlined that their party's demand to increase tribal quotas from 45 percent  to 90 percent holds significance and will be a crucial factor in considering alliances.

Record-breaking victory and future prospects

Roat's victory with a margin surpassing 60,000 votes is the second such instance in Rajasthan’s electoral history. His success stands out, surpassing the previous record set in 2013 when former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje secured a 60,000-vote margin against former Congress MLA Meenakshi Chandrawat. However Raje, has once again kept her  stronghold with an increased margin of over 53,000 votes, surpassing her 2018 victory margin of 34,000 votes.