By Supriya Sharma
The tribal belt in north Chhattisgarh has seen volatile conflict over conversions. And the politician who thrived on it the most was Dilip Singh Judev, once the BJP's star campaigner. He may no longer be as powerful, but the influence of his brand of politics still remains.
"This was a historic moment. No one else has ever laid his moustache at stake in politics. People ask me what am I staking this time, I tell them moustache is not something to stake again and again," said Dilip Singh Judev, BJP leader.
It was flamboyance that in 2003 made Dilip Singh Judev the BJP's poster boy from Chhattisgarh.
His "Ghar wapsi programme," that reconverts Christian tribals to Hinduism, made the BJP sweep 25 of the 34 tribal seats, bringing it to power.
But while the party won, Judev who was caught on tape accepting bribes as union minister lost out.
Within Chhattisgarh, BJP chief minister Raman Singh may have eclipsed Judev. But on his home turf he is still king. It is Judev that decides who gets a ticket from Jashpur, his bastion in the north of Chhattsigarh.
His latest choice is Jageshwar Bhagat, a product of the Sangh's Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.
"If the Raja asks, one has to obey," said Jageshwar Ram Bhagat, BJP candidate, Jashpur.
Jageshwar Bhagat's obedience would be familiar feudal loyalty, had it not been for the added layer of cultural indoctrination. It's emerged from the encounter between Hindutva and tribals.
It's an unequal encounter that Hindutva tries hard to conceal with images like that of Ram embracing Hanuman."Yes, just like adivasis are being embraced by Hinduism," said Jageshwar.
The question is will the tribals embrace BJP this time as well ?
The tribal belt in north Chhattisgarh has seen volatile conflict over conversions. And the politician who thrived on it the most was Dilip Singh Judev, once the BJP's star campaigner. He may no longer be as powerful, but the influence of his brand of politics still remains.
"This was a historic moment. No one else has ever laid his moustache at stake in politics. People ask me what am I staking this time, I tell them moustache is not something to stake again and again," said Dilip Singh Judev, BJP leader.
It was flamboyance that in 2003 made Dilip Singh Judev the BJP's poster boy from Chhattisgarh.
His "Ghar wapsi programme," that reconverts Christian tribals to Hinduism, made the BJP sweep 25 of the 34 tribal seats, bringing it to power.
But while the party won, Judev who was caught on tape accepting bribes as union minister lost out.
Within Chhattisgarh, BJP chief minister Raman Singh may have eclipsed Judev. But on his home turf he is still king. It is Judev that decides who gets a ticket from Jashpur, his bastion in the north of Chhattsigarh.
His latest choice is Jageshwar Bhagat, a product of the Sangh's Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.
"If the Raja asks, one has to obey," said Jageshwar Ram Bhagat, BJP candidate, Jashpur.
Jageshwar Bhagat's obedience would be familiar feudal loyalty, had it not been for the added layer of cultural indoctrination. It's emerged from the encounter between Hindutva and tribals.
It's an unequal encounter that Hindutva tries hard to conceal with images like that of Ram embracing Hanuman."Yes, just like adivasis are being embraced by Hinduism," said Jageshwar.
The question is will the tribals embrace BJP this time as well ?
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