In the current round of local elections in India, voting is also taking place in the state of which Ranchi is the capital. Prime Minister Modi’s Hindu nationalists aim to take back government by promising “equal rights.” But local ethnic groups fear that their identity and traditions will be erased.
Milan () – Next to Maharashtrathese days local elections are also being held in India in the state of Jharkhand, a northeastern state with a strong tribal presence serving whose communities the Father Stan Swamythe Indian Jesuit who died in 2021 after a long imprisonment unjustly accused of terrorism. The elections are held in two rounds: in some districts voting was held on November 13, and the polls will go to the polls on November 20 to elect a total of 81 members of the State Legislative Assembly.
Mainly two political forces are competing for victory in Jharkhand: the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) – representative of the National Alliance for the Inclusive Development of India (INDIA) – and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu nationalist party of which the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is the leader. In the last elections in 2019, the JMM had obtained 30 seats, forming a government with the support of the Indian Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, electing Hemant Sorent as the state’s leader. On that occasion, the BJP had won 25 seats, while the Congress had just over 15.
The electoral programs of the parties competing in these elections focus on a series of reforms to review the state’s government model in order to promote its development. The NDA proposes to “expel infiltrators”, that is, illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in Jharkhand. It also promises to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), while promising to protect and safeguard tribal communities and their rights.
Jharkhand, which was formed as a state in 2000 after the separation of Bihar, is characterized by its highly diverse demographic composition, made up of tribal and non-tribal groups, representing a complex socio-political landscape. By placing great emphasis on the Uniform Civil Code, Hindu nationalists claim to provide a cohesive legal framework that promotes equality among all citizens. This proposal, however, has provoked mixed reactions among tribal groups in the state, who fear that the introduction of the UCC will lead to erosion of individual tribal traditions. Specifically, the leaders of these communities have expressed their concern about the loss of their autonomy and, above all, their customs, which would suffer a process of cultural homogenization.
The NDA’s stance of wanting to protect the tribal population while supporting the adoption of the UCC therefore seems somewhat contradictory and paradoxical. In Jharkhand, the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code would be far from simple, leading to tensions and resistance, especially in rural areas, where knowledge of legal rights is low and limited.
Although almost all electoral programs address the issue of tribal rights, the JMM has also proposed reserving 33% of government jobs for women, along with other points in agriculture and education. The Congress, which currently rules the state along with the JMM and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has promised free electricity, a caste census and filling all vacancies in government institutions.
Before the Jharkhand elections, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) urging voters to vote: “Today is the first round of the Jharkhand Assembly elections. “I urge all voters to vote and participate in democracy.” Following its landslide victory in the northern state of Haryana through the NDA, the BJP hopes to repeat its success in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where elections will be held on November 20. The counting of votes cast will take place in both states on November 23.
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