The living god of Bastar tribals

Kamal Chandra Bhanj Deo, the 28-year-old “King” of Bastar is ready to fight the forthcoming Assembly elections if the BJP gives him the opportunity. According to observers, the royal family holds the key to BJP’s performance in the 12 seats of the region.

Kamal is a modern-day royal. The 23nd Raja of Bastar holds a double masters degree including one in political science from London School of Economics. He completed his schooling from Raipur and Bangalore.

Comfortable speaking in English or Hindi, Kamal is revered by the tribals who come from remote areas to seek his blessings. They worship the soft-spoken king, who over the years has grown accustomed to people more than 90 years-old touching his feet and flocking the Bastar palace to catch a glimpse of their raja.

During Dussehra, the palace is thrown open to the tribals, who come from far-flung areas. Every part of the premises including bedrooms are made accessible to them. When this correspondent visited the palace 10 years ago on the eve of Dussehra, a group of Maria tribals was sitting on one of those massive custom-made sofas in one of the rooms in the palace. According to them, the palace was their second home and the King was their god.

According to Kamal, the decision to join BJP rather than the Congress or any other party, was arrived at on the wishes of the people of Bastar. “There were two reasons for choosing BJP over Congress. Before joining BJP in August this year, we deliberated for over six months where all representatives of the tribal community and other communities met to decide on the course of action. Secondly, Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo was killed by a government which was headed by the Congress”, he told the The Sunday Standard, recalling his grand uncle’s death.

Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo, who descended from the Kakatiya dynasty, had represented Jagdalpur Vidhan Sabha constituency of undivided Madhya Pradesh Assembly on a Congress ticket in 1957.

BJP MLA from Kondagaon in Bastar, Lata Usendi, who is also a minister in the cabinet, feels that induction of the royal family into BJP will help the party. “The Bastar royalty commands considerable following among the tribals and the loyalty of the tribals for their king will be transferred to us.”

However, Bhujit Doshi, Congress spokesperson and someone who has been born and brought up in Jagdalpur, felt the Bastar royalty will have a negligible influence in the region. “For the tribals of Bastar, their last king was Pravir Bhanj Deo, whom they regarded as god.  After his death, the Bastar royalty has lost its following. The BJP’s move to induct him in the party is more symbolic and a tactful move, but it won’t affect the vote share of Congress,” said Doshi.

Kamal said he was open to contesting the forthcoming elections. “I was approached by all parties with the offer of contesting the elections. Now the BJP has taken us, and it is they who should decide.” Kamal was appointed king when he was 11.

He said Chief Minister Raman Singh and BJP national co-organisational secretary Saudan Singh were in constant touch and it was they who approached him. “Both Raman Singhji and Saudan Singhji said joining BJP would be beneficial for both the people of Bastar and the BJP. Later, party president Rajnath Singh and Gujarat CM Narendra Modi too spoke to me and said that we should work together,” said Kamal.

Why is Bastar important

Whichever party has won Bastar has formed the government in the state. In 1998, Congress had won all 12 seats. In 2003, BJP won nine seats, while in 2008 it won 11. Tribal votes constitute more than 32 per cent of the state's population.

As per the 2011 census, tribals comprise 70 per cent of the population of Bastar, which has a population of 14 lakh. The major tribes of the Bastar region are the Gond, Abhuj Maria and Bhatra.

Bastar has seven districts and 12 Assembly constituencies. In the last two elections, the people of Bastar have voted for the BJP. However, this time, predictions say the result might be different and Congress will triumph.