Ahead of the fifth and final phase of Assembly polls on December 20, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Acting President Hemant Soren has been flying by chopper to campaign for the party candidates.

Wherever his chopper lands and he addresses election meetings, hundreds of people, especially Adivasis and Muslims gathered to hear him.

In Godda, thousands of them took part in his election meeting. No matter what the results are on December 23, the Opposition comprising JMM, Congress and RJD have managed to gain the support of Adivasis and Muslims.

This Adivasi- Muslim combination was not a vote bank ever. In fact, Adivasis were mainly divided into three communities: Christian Adivasis, Sarna Adivasis( Indigenous ) and Adivasis who were Hindus.

More often than not, Muslims and Christian Adivasis always voted against BJP whereas many Sarna and Hindu Adivasis backed BJP. This time, the Muslim-Adivasi camp appears to have developed to oppose the ruling BJP in Jharkhand.

The change in this social equation owes primarily to the BJP government led by CM Raghubar Das's failed move to amend the land tenancy Acts enacted by the British government to prevent displacement of Adivasis through the acquisition of Adivasis lands by Non - Adivasis in early 20th century.

The Adivasi- Muslim combination was visible in the election meeting of the JMM leader Hemant in Godda. 
 

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