International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research
Submit Paper

Title:
A Comparative Study of the Rhetoric of Inclusion in Electoral Campaigns and Governance: Case Study of Tribal Inclusion in Odisha

Authors:
Aadarsh Tripathy

Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER)
ISSN: 2455-8834
Volume: 10
Issue: 6
Publication Date: June 2025
DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i06.028

|| ||

Aadarsh Tripathy
Jayshree Periwal International School

MLA 8
Tripathy, Aadarsh. "A Comparative Study of the Rhetoric of Inclusion in Electoral Campaigns and Governance: Case Study of Tribal Inclusion in Odisha." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 10, no. 6, June 2025, pp. 2365-2381, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i06.028. Accessed June 2025.
APA 6
Tripathy, A. (2025, June). A Comparative Study of the Rhetoric of Inclusion in Electoral Campaigns and Governance: Case Study of Tribal Inclusion in Odisha. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 10(6), 2365-2381. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i06.028
Chicago
Tripathy, Aadarsh. "A Comparative Study of the Rhetoric of Inclusion in Electoral Campaigns and Governance: Case Study of Tribal Inclusion in Odisha." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 10, no. 6 (June 2025), 2365-2381. Accessed June, 2025. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i06.028.

References

[1] . Barik, S. (2024, August 23). Subhadra Yojana scheme: Odisha CM Mohan Majhi announces implementation of much awaited Subhadra scheme. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/odisha/odisha-chief-minister-mohan-majhi-announces-implementation-of-much-awaited-subhadra-scheme/article68558493.ece
[2] . Bennett, L. (Ed.). (2006). Unequal Citizens: Gender, Caste and Ethnic Exclusion in Nepal : Summary. World Bank.
[3] . Bharatiya Janata Party. (2024). Modinka Guarantee: Odisha 2024.
[4] . Bharatiya Janata Party. (2024). Salient points of speech : Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji while addressing public rallies in Mayurbhanj, Balasore & Kendrapara (Odisha) [Press Release]. https://www.bjp.org/pressreleases/salient-points-speech-honble-prime-minister-shri-narendra-modi-ji-while-108
[5] . Biju Janata Dal. (2024). Vision for Odisha No 1: People's Manifesto 2024.
[6] . Census of India. (2011). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner.
[7] . CFRLA. (2017). Promise and Performance of the Forest Rights Act, 2006: The Tenth Anniversary Report [Citizens' Report as part of Community Forest Rights-Learning and Advocacy (CFRLA) process].
[8] . Deshpande, T. (2024, April 6). Election 2024: Where Do Forest Rights Matter? India Spend. https://www.indiaspend.com/forest-rights/election-2024-where-do-forest-rights-matter-902884
[9] . Dubey, S. (2025, May 14). Tribal Women Protest: Kalahandi's Fight for Forest Rights Over Green Gold. Down To Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/battle-over-green-gold-tribal-women-lead-forest-rights-protest-in-odishas-kalahandi
[10] . Economic Times. (2024, October 20). "Very touched...": PM Modi as Odisha tribal woman sends Rs 100 to 'convey thanks'. Economic Times.
[11] . Edelman, M. J. (1988). Constructing the political spectacle. University of Chicago Press.
[12] . Fernandes, W., & Raj, A. S. (1992). Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation in the Tribal Areas of Orissa. Indian Social Institute.
[13] . Fraser, N. (2023). From Redistribution to Recognition? Dilemmas of Justice in a ‘Post-Socialist’ Age. In A. Phillips (Ed.), Feminism and Politics. Oxford University Press.
[14] . Fraser, N., & Honneth, A. (2003). Redistribution Or Recognition? A Political-Philosophical Exchange. Verso Books.
[15] . Fürer-Haimendorf, C. v. (1989). Tribes of India: The Struggle for Survival (M. Yorke & J. Rao, Eds.). Oxford University Press.
[16] . Ghosh, R. (2024, December 23). Hunger, Food Insecurity Deepen In An Adivasi Odisha Village, As Govt Schemes For Work, Nutrition Fail. Article-14. https://article-14.com/post/hunger-food-insecurity-deepen-in-an-adivasi-odisha-village-as-govt-schemes-for-work-nutrition-fail--67687592d2159
[17] . Ghosh, S. (2024, March 11). Why BJP-BJD alliance talks failed in Odisha, ‘Suicidal for us if…’. Mint. https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/lok-sabha-polls-2024-suicidal-for-us-if-why-bjp-bjd-alliance-talks-failed-in-odisha-11709958530126.html
[18] . Heaton, C., Kashif, A., & Mukhopadhaya, P. (2024). Unconditional cash transfer programs and women’s empowerment: evidence from Pakistan. Empirical Economics, 67, 2865–2892. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-024-02626-8.
[19] . Kukreti, I. (2019, March 19). One in five voters in Odisha are tribals. But do they get their due? Down to Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/general-elections-2019/one-in-five-voters-in-odisha-are-tribals-but-do-they-get-their-due--63642
[20] . Kumar, K. (2014). Confronting Extractive Capital: Social and Environmental Movements in Odisha. Economic and Political Weekly, 49(14), 66–73. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24479385
[21] . Laclau, E. (2005). On Populist Reason. Verso.
[22] . Lakshman, A. (2024, April 19). BJP’s 2024 election campaign: Scripting a new tribal identity. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/bjps-2024-election-campaign-scripting-a-new-tribal-identity/article68079640.ece
[23] . The Leaflet. (2022, January 23). Forest Rights Act: While Non-BJP States Perform Better, Law is Moving at a Snail’s Pace in J&K. The Leaflet.
[24] . Madankar, M., Kakade, N., Basa, L., & Sabri, B. (2024). Exploring Maternal and Child Health Among Tribal Communities in India: A Life Course Perspective. Global Journal of Health Science, 16(2), 31–47.
[25] . Mishra, S. (2024, November 25). Ambitious Subhadra Yojana falters in tribal hinterland Malkangiri. OdishaTV. Retrieved June 7, 2025, from https://odishatv.in/news/odisha/ambitious-subhadra-yojana-falters-in-tribal-hinterland-malkangiri-249718
[26] . Mohanty, D. (2024, February 23). Kalia scheme for farmers extended by 3 years in Odisha, announces state cabinet. Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/kalia-scheme-for-farmers-extended-by-3-years-in-odisha-announces-state-cabinet-101708660199747.html
[27] . Mohanty, H. (2024, June 4). Verdict 2024: Odisha’s women may have helped tilt scales in state against BJD, say experts. Down to Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/verdict-2024-odishas-women-may-have-helped-tilt-scales-in-state-against-bjd-say-experts
[28] . Naila, K. (2010). Can the MDGs provide a pathway to social justice? The challenge of intersecting inequalities.
[29] . Nayak, S. R., & Jena, S. (2022). Development And The Exclusion Of Indigenous Groups. World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues, 26(3), 88–99. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48712328.
[30] . The New Indian Express. (2014, April 21). Concern over Neglect of FRA by Political Parties. The New Indian Express.
[31] . The New Indian Express. (2025, March 5). Root out irritants in paddy buying process. The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/editorials/2025/Mar/04/root-out-irritants-in-paddy-buying-process
[32] . NFHS - 5 [National Family and Health Survey - 5]. (2021). International Institute for Population Sciences.
[33] . Ota, A. B., Mohanty, S. C., & Mohanty, B. N. (Eds.). (2015). Demographic Profile of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha (1961-2011). Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), ST & SC Development Department, Government of Odisha.
[34] . Panda, A. (2025, May 6). Tribal farmers in Odisha raise alarm over millet scheme’s shift from indigenous seeds. Down to Earth.
[35] . Panda, N. K., & Dash, L. N. (2018). Dam and Tribal Displacement: A Case Study of Odisha. The Tribal Tribune, 8.
[36] . Pani, C. R. (2025, May 13). Corporate lobbying to promote hybrid millets in Odisha undermines tribal farmers for unsustainable profits. Down to Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/corporate-lobbying-to-promote-hybrid-millets-in-odisha-undermines-tribal-farmers-for-unsustainable-profits
[37] . Pani, M. B. (2024, December 9). Odisha CM Majhi launches Rs 800 input subsidy for farmers, slams BJD over unfulfilled promises. The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2024/Dec/09/odisha-cm-majhi-launches-rs-800-input-subsidy-for-farmers-slams-bjd-over-unfulfilled-promises
[38] . Press Trust of India. (2024, January 31). Odisha govt ‘anti-tribal’, schemes for adivasis only to woo them ahead of polls: BJP. The Print. https://theprint.in/india/odisha-govt-anti-tribal-schemes-for-adivasis-only-to-woo-them-ahead-of-polls-bjp/1946358/
[39] . Press Trust of India. (2024, September 25). BJD calls BJP 'anti-tribal', slams Odisha government for stopping schemes. Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjd-calls-bjp-anti-tribal-slams-odisha-government-for-stopping-schemes/articleshow/113665129.cms?from=mdr
[40] . Raj, S. R. (2017). People’s Movement in Odisha: An Assessment. Indian Journal of Public Administration. Indian Journal of Public Administration, 63(2), 265-283. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019556117699744. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019556117699744
[41] . Raj, S. R. (2022). The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the 2019 Elections in Odisha: Towards a Political Alternative. In S. K. Mitra, R. Saxena, & P. Mukherjee (Eds.), The 2019 Parliamentary Elections in India: Democracy at the Crossroads? Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
[42] . Ray, P. K., & Mohanty, P. C. (2017). BJD versus BJP: Odisha’s new bipolarity? In S. Palshikar, S. Kumar, & S. Lodha (Eds.), Electoral Politics in India: The Resurgence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (pp. 183–195). Taylor & Francis Group.
[43] . Rout, H. K. (2024, November 11). Mango kernel deaths: A bitter cost of hunger and failing governance. The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2024/Nov/11/mango-kernel-deaths-a-bitter-cost-of-hunger-and-failing-governance
[44] . Sahoo, A. K. (2024, September 11). CAG report highlights failures in Odisha's KALIA scheme. Deccan Chronicle.
[45] . Sahu, P. R. (2024, June 5). Verdict 2024: Did farmer grievances about paddy MSP lead to BJD’s defeat in Odisha? Down to Earth.
[46] . Santoshini, S. (2019, November 20). In Odisha's Residential Schools For Tribal Girls, Education Comes At A Cost. Indiaspend. https://www.indiaspend.com/in-odishas-residential-schools-for-tribal-girls-education-comes-at-a-cost
[47] . Sen, A. (2000). Social Exclusion: Concept, Application, And Scrutiny. Asian Development Bank.
[48] . Shukla, S., & Tiwari, S. (2024). A Geographical Perspective On School Dropouts In India. The Deccan Geographer, 62(7), 286-304.
[49] . Simon, C. A. (2019). The Effect Of Cash-Based Interventions On Gender Outcomes In Development And Humanitarian Settings. UN Women.
[50] . Swain, G., & Attri, V. (2024). What Explains the BJD’s Defeat in Odisha? Economic and Political Weekly, 59(38).
[51] . The Times of India. (2024, June 5). Sea change in Odisha: BJP wave drowns BJD & Naveen. The Times of India.
[52] . Vyawahare, M. (2023, November 20). Can India’s Forest Rights Act deliver? Odisha state is trying to find out. Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/11/can-indias-forest-rights-act-deliver-odisha-state-is-trying-to-find-out/
[53] . Women and Children Development Department. (2024). A Flagship Scheme for the Welfare of the Women of the State.

ABSTRACT:
This paper critically examines the politics of tribal inclusion in Odisha through a comparative study of electoral campaigns, narratives, and governance outcomes. By analyzing the competing narratives of two dominant political parties in the state, it explores how both parties deploy inclusive rhetoric through welfare promises, historical commemorations, and symbolic gestures while often failing to deliver meaningful structural reform. The study focuses on the disconnect between political promises and implementation in key areas such as forest rights, food security, agrarian policy, and tribal women’s welfare. Drawing on various sources of data, the paper reveals how issues like delayed implementation of the Forest Rights Act, failures in welfare schemes, and the persistent weakening of agrarian systems among tribal groups reflect deeper dissonance between rhetoric and reality. The paper argues that inclusion is often reduced to a floating signifier, mobilized as electoral capital that does not lead to transformative structural change. Ultimately, it calls for a relational, structural understanding of inclusion that addresses intersecting exclusions in land, gender, and tribal livelihoods.

IJSSER is Member of