[Watch] Odisha Panchayat Polls: Free Of Maoist Control, Swabhiman Area In Malkangiri Eager To Vote

Malkangiri: Once a common sight, the areas are no longer dotted with red flags of Maoists and their posters.

Villagers, who for years lived under the shadow of Maoist fear and violence, are eager and excited to vote in the panchayat elections and usher in development.

Politicians are moving freely, seeking votes.

For years, elections did not take place in these areas because of Maoist fear. Maoists would routinely give poll boycott calls. Out of fear, villagers would comply. There was no other choice.

But times have changed. Starting from Chitrakonda’s Swabhiman Anchal to Bandaghati, large swathes of the district that were once under Maoist control have been retaken by security forces, which has made the holding of panchayat polls, free of Maoist fear, possible in these areas after decades.

From Chitrakonda’s Swabhiman Anchal to Bandaghati’s Mudulipada and Andrahal, together with Govindapalli valley’s Madakapadar and Badadural panchayats, all these areas in Malkangiri district were once under Maoist control. The tribal villagers lived under fear.

But today, after years of sustained security operations, the areas have been retaken from the Maoists by the Border Security Force (BSF). And with it, the seeds of development have been sown.

There is now a motorable road connecting Madakapadar gram panchayat. But when Maoists controlled the area, one had to trek through jungles and cross mountains to reach the place.

At many places, pucca roads dot the landscape. At others, road construction work is on.

For the three-tier panchayat elections, politicians are fearlessly moving in the area and campaigning.

In the same jungles that used to be dotted with red flags and Maoist posters, one can now see election posters on trees. From the same trees from which Maoist guerillas used to target security forces, today villagers are seen stringing election posters from them.

But politicians asking villagers to vote for them know that while security forces were doing a commendable job, it was now their turn to do their bit to improve the lives of people, ensure better connectivity, drinking water, healthcare and education facilities in a place where huts of villagers are scattered over hills.

The Swabhiman Anchal became a Maoist citadel in the late sixties. Water from a reservoir built to generate hydroelectricity formed a water channel that submerged hundreds of villages. Villages that survived, over 170, became cut off and became known as Swabhiman Anchal in 2018.

Stray Maoist posters on the panchayat polls have surfaced in Swabhiman Anchal. The posters pasted on walls in Jantri and Jantabai panchayats asked candidates, who have filed their nominations, to withdraw the papers.

Odisha DGP Sunil Kumar Bansal on Friday visited Malkangiri district to review security arrangements for the upcoming panchayat polls.

The DGP visited the BSF’s Hantalguda Camp in Swabhiman Anchal and also interacted with villagers.

Bansal said that drones will be deployed in Swabhiman Anchal during the elections. If required, helicopters will also be pressed into service, he added.

The BJP and BJD are the two main parties in the poll fray. Malkangiri is a BJP stronghold. While the BJP and BJD are the main contestants in the panchayat polls, the Congress is treading weak ground.

The sizeable Bengali population in Kalimela, Padia, Korukonda and Malkangiri Sadar blocks plays a crucial role in elections in the district. The nearly two-lakh Bengali voters usually vote unitedly for one party.

Both the BJP and BJD are trying to woo them, besides the tribal villagers.