Adivasis and the State Politics in Jharkhand

Date01 June 2018
Published date01 June 2018
DOI10.1177/2321023018762821
Subject MatterArticles
Article
Adivasis and the State Politics
in Jharkhand
Sujit Kumar1
Abstract
This article attempts to analyse the political behaviour of the adivasi groups in Jharkhand as rooted in the
interplay of their interactions with different religions, exposure to non-agricultural economic activities
and diverse nature of association with the state. The questions considered for inquiry are: Is the
political terrain in Jharkhand moving towards ‘detribalization’ of governance? And, what are the factors
influencing the voting behaviour of the adivasis? The article argues that the ambivalences occupying
the interstices of the intra-community political behaviour are crucial in deciphering the adivasi politics.
Ostensibly, the political choices of the adivasi community are largely framed in accordance with their
everyday interaction with the local state as well as remote experiences of the latter as evident in
cases of resource grab. The article is based upon the close observation of events concerning adivasis,
analysis of assembly election data as well as news in local and national newspapers.
Keywords
Jharkhand, adivasi politics, detribalization, voting behaviour, resource grab
Introduction
Adivasi politics, in general, is understood in terms of resistance against resource grab with very little
being said about their myriad forms of interaction with the state, particularly through elections.
Jharkhand, popularly perceived as an adivasi homeland, can help illuminate adivasi politics in retrospect
and also to comprehend its prospect. Since its formation on 15 November 2000 till the year 2014, the
state has been governed by adivasi chief ministers irrespective of their political affiliation.2 Installing
of a non-adivasi, Raghubar Das, as chief minister has more than symbolic importance as the new regime
has ushered in ‘detribalization of governance’ which can be understood as a twofold process having
both sociocultural and political aspects. Scholars like Das (1962, p. 231) have analysed detribalization
1 Department of Political Science, St Joseph’s College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
2 Babulal Marandi, a Santhal adivasi, was the first chief minister followed by Arjun Munda, a Munda adivasi. Both hailed from
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shibu Soren and later his son Hemant Soren, both Santhal adivasi, from the Jharkhand Mukti
Morcha (JMM) became chief ministers. For a short period, Madhu Koda, a Ho adivasi, also became chief minister. For the first
time, a non-adivasi in the form of Raghubar Das has become the chief minister since 2014.
Studies in Indian Politics
6(1) 103–116
© 2018 Lokniti, Centre for the
Study of Developing Societies
SAGE Publications
sagepub.in/home.nav
DOI: 10.1177/2321023018762821
http://journals.sagepub.com/home/inp
Corresponding author:
Sujit Kumar, Department of Political Science, St Joseph’s College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: sujit.ski@gmail.com

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