Poor people living in the remote areas of Kandhamal district do not want elections to destroy the peace and harmony of this communally volatile region.
Blaram Pradhan, a resident of Sikaketi village under the G. Udaygiri Assembly segment of Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency, is clear that they want to forget the gory communal violence of the past. A church and several houses were damaged during the 2008 communal riots in Sikaketi. Women of the village allege that it was the handiwork of outsiders and assert that they do not want to get divided by outsiders again.
This Christian-dominated village has 135 families. However, during the last panchayat elections, the village elected unopposed a Hindu woman, Saristri Pradhan, as its panchayat ward member. Be it a Hindu feast or Christmas celebration, families here are always together. “Our unity has been strengthened after the communal riots. We have decided to vote as per our choice and not let the election campaign destroy our amity,” says Ms. Pradhan.
According to the villagers, two days ago when a candidate contesting in their Assembly seat organised a feast in their village, all of them attended it. “We are adopting the same attitude towards all political parties that visit our village,” says Rojanti Pradhan. In Badapanga, a Hindu-dominated village near Sikaketi, Madan Majhi declares that they do not want to get polarised along religious lines. “We should vote for a suitable candidate and not vote for an undeserving one along religious lines,” he says.
Political activists allege that their rivals are trying to influence the voters along religious lines. Arun Sahu of Daringbadi says people who suffered due to communal violence do not want to become prey to such polarisation again. He alleges that outsiders who come to Kandhamal during election campaign usually try to fan divisive feelings.
According to social activist Kailash Dandapat, people will vote on developmental issues and not along religious lines.