Pahadpur to Purvodaya: PM's tribal outreach signals renewed focus on East

Modi's Pahadpur visit underscored Mission Purvodaya, blending tribal outreach with the BJP's push for development and political expansion in eastern India

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Pahadpur, the remote tribal village of President Droupadi Murmu in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Saturday, it was much more than a ceremonial visit.

 

The sight of the President and the Prime Minister, and the governor and the chief minister sharing a dais at a public gathering in the tribal hinterland was a rare and powerful moment carrying profound cultural and political significance.

 

The occasion marked two years of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha and 12 years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. Yet, the choice of Rairangpur as the venue was a departure from the usual practice of hosting the government’s anniversary events in the state capital. By taking the celebrations to a tribal hinterland, the government attempted to send a message about its commitment to tribal communities and regional development.

 

While the event was a celebration of the BJP’s breakthrough in Odisha, where it ended the 24-year political dominance of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), hosting it in one of eastern India’s tribal-dominated regions reveals the larger strategic thinking behind the party’s eastern India project, “Mission Purvodaya”, an initiative to make eastern India the engine of both economic growth and political consolidation.

 

The Prime Minister not only toured the village, he also participated in indigenous rituals in recognition that the tribal tradition of worshipping nature is an integral part of India's cultural heritage. He visited Gosani Peeth (a tribal place of worship) and offered prayers at Santali and Ho jaheras, sacred groves of tall Sal trees revered by tribal communities.

 

“Worshipping jaheras is a core component of every Santal family. The traditions represented by the jaheras reflect a deep civilisational relationship between tribal communities and nature. The Prime Minister offering prayers and his gesture sent a message that the government prioritises both preservation of nature and development,” said Suresh Chandra Murmu, a tribal researcher and professor of anthropology. 

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Pahadpur village in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district on Saturday.

 

The moment transcended the boundaries as the cultural significance of the visit resonated strongly across tribal communities in eastern India. Former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren described the occasion as a watershed moment in the history of tribal society. In a social-media post he said: “This is a significant chapter in the glorious history of the tribal community. We will proudly share it with future generations as a symbol of our self-respect, existence, and identity.”

 

Rairangpur is not merely the place where Murmu began her political journey as a councillor and later as member of the Legislative Assembly. It is located in a politically sensitive tribal belt connecting Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal. These three states along with Chhattisgarh have over 31 million tribal residents, accounting for around 30 per cent of India’s tribal population.

 

Amid its rapidly growing footprint, the BJP’s tribal strategy has evolved significantly over the past decade. Its decision in 2022 to make Murmu India’s first tribal woman President remains one of the most consequential political moves in recent years. The party also chose Majhi over several strong contenders to lead the first BJP government in Odisha when it dethroned the BJD in 2024.

 

Addressing the gathering, Modi linked tribal empowerment to his larger “Purvodaya” vision, which seeks to transform eastern India into a major growth engine of the national economy. He launched 72 projects worth over Rs 47,600 crore and highlighted infrastructure expansion, railway connectivity, industrial investment, education and welfare programmes targeted at historically neglected regions.

 

He also paid tribute to eminent tribal personalities, including Pandit Raghunath Murmu, creator of the Ol Chiki script for the Santhali language, and highlighted the Union government’s efforts to promote and preserve the Santhali language and culture, including the presentation of the Constitution of India in Santhali.

 

Soumendra Mohan Patnaik, director of the Centre for Tribal Studies at Delhi University, said the statement was clear — tribal regions should not merely be beneficiaries of welfare but participants in economic growth.

 

"For generations, many tribal regions remained on the margins of India's development discourse despite their rich cultural heritage. Now they are at the forefront of the nation's development agenda. Paying respect to tribal traditions in their own homeland, the government acknowledges that indigenous communities are stakeholders in the country's growth story. Such high-level attention will definitely create momentum for greater development interventions," he said.

 

The venue also has a cross-border political resonance. Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, traces her roots to Mayurbhanj, reflecting the close social and cultural links between tribal communities on either side of the Odisha-Jharkhand border. The region's demographic weight, tribal population, mineral wealth and potential influence in future delimitation exercises also make it strategically important.

 

The political significance of Modi's visit, however, is deeply rooted in the geography of eastern India. The BJP has largely consolidated its position across much of northern and western India, while southern India remains challenging despite gains. Having secured power in Odisha and West Bengal, the party looks at Jharkhand as the next crucial frontier in its eastern India strategy. Recent political developments in Jharkhand, including cross-voting episodes during Rajya Sabha elections, have fuelled speculation about political realignment in the state.

 

Political observers believe that strengthening the BJP's footprint in eastern India serves two purposes. First, it consolidates the party in regions expected to become more influential in future parliamentary calculations. Second, it helps build support among states that could benefit from expanded representation after delimitation. Besides, it also tries to reinforce that tribal representation is central to its political narrative.

 

Bijaya Bohidar, a retired professor and political analyst, said the Modi government’s Purvodaya vision always contained both developmental and political dimensions. It is often discussed as an economic strategy, but it has larger political ramifications as development creates political legitimacy, he said.

 

The image of Modi and Murmu standing together near sacred groves may ultimately be remembered not simply as a ceremonial occasion, but as a defining moment in the BJP's effort to transform eastern India into both the economic and political centrepiece of its next phase of expansion. "Beyond the vote bank, the party wants to create a narrative that it also equally works for the tribal welfare. Economically, eastern India possesses abundant mineral resources, strategic ports and large young populations. Politically, it offers the BJP remaining opportunities for expansion," Bohidar observed.