Amidst the sweltering heat in the village of Amartal, Khoobchand Diwakar, 50, fumbles for his phone. Its screen remains blank, a symbol of the lack of connectivity that has plagued this region.
As he watches the sun beat down upon the parched earth, a sense of unease fills his heart. Rumors have reached his ears, unsettling messages that spread like wildfire through social media. They whisper of a plot to alter the Constitution, to dismantle the protections guaranteed to Dalits and other marginalized communities.
“I have seen those videos,” Diwakar declares, his voice thick with concern. “They say Ambedkar’s Constitution will be changed. They did similar tinkering in Gujarat, and now they are extending it to the entire country. If they return to power, reservation will be gone.”
His words resonate with the small group gathered around him, all landless laborers and small-time farmers, each bearing the weight of uncertainty on their faces. They nod in agreement, their voices echoing the same fears.
Mela Ram Jangeda, 45, adds his voice to the chorus. “I have heard they [BJP] gave slogans denouncing Dalits and tribals… they shouldn’t say such things. It is insulting to all of us,” he remarks.
The fear extends beyond changes to the Constitution. There is a palpable sense of dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. Santosh Dhimar, 40, launches into an uncontrolled rant, his words laced with frustration and anger.
“Every five years, the government must change,” he exclaims. “But it doesn’t, because they hold the remote control. No matter what you press at the EVMs, the vote goes to the BJP. Meanwhile, we struggle to find two meals a day for our children.”
This fear of a lack of vacancies, growing unemployment, stagnant wages, and rising inflation permeates the villages that dot this reserved constituency. The BJP’s grip on the region, once seemingly unbreakable, appears to be loosening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attempted to assuage these concerns, issuing clarifications that the BJP will not abolish the Constitution. However, his speeches have also been laced with accusations against the Congress, alleging that they are trying to hand over SC/ST reservations to the Muslim minority.
These words have cast a shadow of fear over the communities that the BJP has long courted. Janjgir Champa, in many ways, serves as a bellwether for the party’s fortunes. It was here that BSP founder Kanshi Ram fought his debut election in 1984, receiving over 32,000 votes. For 25 years, the BJP has held the seat without interruption, while the Congress’s last victory here was in 1999.
The BSP, once a strong presence, has also seen its influence dwindle. In the recent Assembly elections, the Congress swept all eight Assembly segments within Janjgir Champa, winning four seats from the BJP, two from the BSP, and retaining the two it held.
Now, as the 2024 General Elections approach, a palpable change is in the air. Dhirender Patle, 28, from Badhra village, voted for the BSP in the 2019 elections. However, this time around, his vote will go to the Congress. “The BSP has surrendered to the BJP,” he declares. “There is no point wasting our vote on them.”
Horil Lal Banjare, 60, sitting beside him, remains quiet, but his eyes convey a similar disillusionment with the BJP. He scoffs at the free ration scheme, extended for another five years. “Every day on TV, we hear about the free ration,” he asks. “But what about the rate of pulses and other groceries? What about petrol? Are we to survive only on free rice?”
The question hangs in the air, a poignant reflection of the anxieties and aspirations that linger within the hearts of the people of Janjgir Champa.
