By Tirthankar Mitra
KOLKATA: Both BJP and Trinamool Congress are wary of an undercurrent of unrest among Kudmi community in Purulia, Jhargram and Bankura districts with days to go before first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal. Shifting voter loyalty and identity politics are shaping contests in these districts.
Kudmi community has hit the streets several times since 2022 demanding Scheduled Tribe status. Inclusion of Kurmali language in Eighth Schedule was also among the demands voiced by the agitation which brought train movement through these areas to a standstill.
The Kudmis are presently classified as Other Backward Castes (OBC). With an estimated population of nearly 50 lakhs, the votes of this community is a deciding factor in 30 constituencies in Bankura, Purulia and Jhargram areas of south Bengal .
The 1931 census included the Kudmis as a tribal community. But they found themselves left out in 1950 census.
Kudmi community leaders feel that they should have been more vocal about their demand during the Left Front rule and the Trinamool dispensation which replaced it. The BJP has fielded Biswajit Mahato, son of Kudmi leader Ajit Mahato who led the recent agitation.
If the choice of Biswajit Mahato in Joypur Assembly segment appears to be an astute move on the part of the saffron camp, it falls far short of being of being termed a master stroke. For the BJP, supporting the Kudmi demand would boil down to alienating other Scheduled Tribe groups who do not want their share diluted.
Manbazar is an Assembly segment in eastern Purulia is a case in point. It is reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates.
But the TMC leadership seems to have woken up the BJP outreach among the Kudmis. It has a accused the saffron leadership of “exploring emotions” of the community.
Ethnic identity and political dignity id being fused with development by TMC to splinter BJP influence among Kudmis. It is likely to cost the saffron camp dearly in what appears to be a closely contested electoral battle.
The areas inhabited by Kudmis is known for Chou dance, forests and the blooming Palash trees which were once stated to be conveying a political message during the Left Front rule where the red flag held precedence. The area is known for its draw among the tourists.
But the area has an agrarian economy. Many households lack piped water and Kangsabati river remains the main source of water.
Only too aware of the danger of Kudmis switching their loyalty to the saffron camp, Trinamool Congress top leadership is trying to pull up its socks. It has devised a game plan in which cultural assertion has been pitted against BJP-run Union government imposition.
In a recent rally at Gopiballavpur, TMC national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee raised the twin issues of proposed imposition of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and not including the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of Constitution. Stressing that his party has voiced demand for inclusion of Kurmali to which the BJP-run Union government has turned a deaf ear even as it is trying to impose uniformity.
The UCC would override local customs and traditions, Banerjee said. Just as forests host a variety of flora and fauna, the government must respect diversity. In this land of forests and bounty of nature, his draw on local imagery drew widespread applause
Both Banerjee and local TMC leaders are drawing attention to the fact that Centre is sitting on TMC government’s recommendation of giving constitutional recognition to Kurmali. The TMC recommendation dates back to February long before the election dates were announced which is a pointer to the party’s sincere association with Kudmis cultural and linguistic roots.
The Trinamool activists are propagating the benefits of social welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar, Yuba Sathi, Krishak Bandhu and Banglar Bari. Implementation of such development schemes form the report card of the ruling dispensation.
State government sponsored development schemes are being juxtaposed with rising prices if essential commodities under BJP dispensation at the Centre. The coming elections is being portrayed as a choice between “economic relief and economic strain”.
Converting unmet cultural demands into potential political weapons and marrying welfare delivery with identity politics has been made into a poll plank for Trinamool Congress. This game plan offers in so many words, a glimpse of the TMC game plan in the tribal belt. (IPA Service)
