With a slender frame, standing around five and a half feet tall, at 33 years old, Kamaleshwar Dodiyar embodied the tenacity of the tribal populace. Until recently, his story was little known; but as of December 3rd, results of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections have elevated his status to 'honorable MLA-elect Kamaleshwar Dodiyar'. Dodiyar holds no ties with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the principal opposition, Congress. He represents a newly elected force—the
Bharat Adiwasi Party or BAP
Carving a niche for the nascent Bharat Adiwasi Party (BAP) in Rajasthan's political landscape, Dodiyar scored a victory from Ratlam district's Sailana seat over Congress MLA Harsh Vijay Gehlot by a margin of 4,618 votes. This victory sprung amidst BAP's eight candidates battling it out in the fray.
His recent popularity stems from pressing on through approximately 12 lakhs of debt, with which he campaigned for the elections. After being elected, he embraced the winter's chill and traveled roughly 350 km by bike from Sailana (Ratlam) to Bhopal in 8-9 hours. The BAP's triumphant candidate is summoned to Bhopal's Assembly Secretariat to submit necessary paperwork.
In our conversation, Dodiyar expresses, 'Our campaign workers poured everything they had into the election. Every vehicle—from bikes to autos and cars—was fully engaged. But post-campaign, everyone was exhausted. I didn't want to impose upon their resources any further. Plus, there was an urgency from the Assembly Secretariat to process the documents. Before setting out from home, I did wait for a car, but due to the punctuality of the schedule, I resolved to take my brother-in-law's bike to Bhopal.'
Source: aajtak
When questioned about the absence of helmets during his bike journey, he said, 'We just didn't have the funds to purchase quality helmets after the election expenses. We plan to get them soon.'
Entering Politics Inspired by Obama
Dodiyar recalls being inspired after learning about Barack Obama's ascension to the US presidency. 'How can a man of struggle become the president of a powerful country like America? It struck a chord with me,' he said. His father's family, too, had to abandon their home in the Raghuakuan village due to destitutes, living today in a hut. His father suffers from disability, and his mother works as a daily wage laborer.
While pursuing graduation from Ujjain, Dodiyar connected with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He claims to have become a first-year trained volunteer. With the hope of further education and support, he moved to Delhi but received no aid from RSS, leading him to join various demonstrations and protests.
Return to MP in 2017 and Association with JAYS
Post Delhi, he aligned himself with the 'Jai Yuva Adivasi Shakti' (JAYS), actively participating in their movements. Boosted by his grassroots debut in the 2018 MP Assembly elections, although an independent candidate then, he collected 18,800 votes against a target of 10,000. He consequently contested the Lok Sabha elections for Ratlam seat under the Bharat Tribal Party (BTP) ticket in 2019.
Why Choose BAP Over BTP
Before the 2023 assembly elections, BTP split, birthing the Bharat Adiwasi Party (BAP). Dodiyar marched under BAP's banner and clinched a win from Sailana, garnering 71,219 votes, whereas his Congress adversary secured 66,601 votes. The BJP candidate trailed with 41,584 votes.
Facing Charges of Misconduct and NSA
Dodiyar's journey hasn't been without controversy. At 33, he's faced grave charges, including rape and restraining orders. In defense, he claims the complaint arose from a woman he was engaged to, spurred by opposing forces. Before his election nomination, he did receive bail after being imprisoned.
Moreover, multiple cases are registered against him, primarily related to protests and blockades, including serious charges under the National Security Act. Dodiyar also counters allegations of indebting himself with 12 lakhs for the elections and resorting to 'Nota' to repay it. 'Nota', a social convention in the Bhil community, invites voluntary societal support without coercion—a tradition through which Dodiyar claims to have reduced his debts to 5 lakhs.
Source: aajtak
Aspirations to Join the BJP Government
The solitary figure among the third-party MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, Dodiyar now expresses a desire to join the BJP government. Emulating the trajectory of luminaries like Modi and Shivraj, who have risen from poverty to assist others, he aims to further his mission irrespective of ideological differences. BAP has won a single seat in Madhya Pradesh and three in Rajasthan.
