Identity Politics

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) manifesto for the Jharkhand elections reveals a strategic focus on identity politics, with promises targeted specifically at tribal communities amid concerns over alleged demographic changes in the state.

By promising to exempt tribals from the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and reclaim tribal lands reportedly taken by "infiltrators," the BJP has centered its campaign on safeguarding local identities and addressing anxieties about cultural erosion. This approach raises important questions about the party's electoral strategy in regions where preserving traditional structures and community autonomy remains a priority. The promise to shield tribals from the UCC, while advancing the policy elsewhere, reflects an attempt by the BJP to reconcile its national vision of uniformity in personal laws with the distinct cultural practices of Adivasi communities.