Why Adivasi politicians have begun dominating Odisha’s politics

Odisha finds itself at a remarkable point in its political journey. For the first time, a slew of Adivasi leaders from the state have occupied commanding positions in state and national politics, while most of the prominent mainstream Odia politicians languish on the sidelines.

Given that Adivasi communities account for roughly 23% of the state’s population, Odisha has seen many Adivasi politicians. In the 1990s, two Adivasi chief ministers from the Congress – Hemanand Biswal and Giridhar Gamang – ruled the state briefly. But the Odias in the politically-dominant coastal tract snobbishly looked upon the Adivasi chief ministers as placeholders while their own leaders were busy settling their disputes.

Other Adivasi leaders from Odisha, who rose to the position of state and Central ministers, were usually seen as meeting an inclusivity requirement for the party in power. Odisha’s reigning political parties, thus, sought to accommodate Adivasi identity while treating individual leaders as dispensable.

But in the past five years, something changed: Adivasi leaders appear to have edged out mainstream Odia politicians. The first sign was the elevation of Droupadi Murmu from governor of Jharkhand to President of India – something few in Odisha had anticipated.

In fact, many Odias in the coastal tract were expecting Governor Biswa...

Read more