: In the tribal-dominated Koraput and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seats, which will go to polls on May 13, politicians are visiting local haats (weekly markets) to campaign after understanding the limitations of high-tech methods in reaching out to the electorate in remote areas.
BJD MP candidate for Koraput, Kausalya Hikaka emphasised the necessity of the grassroots approach. “In the tribal areas, we can’t depend on hi-tech campaigning methods. People are mostly poor and illiterate with limited access to modern ways of communication,” Kausalya said.
Recently, sitting Koraput MP and Congress candidate Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka along with party nominee for Laxmipur assembly seat, Pabitra Saunta, also campaigned at Kakiriguma weekly market. “Weekly markets offer a unique opportunity to connect with a large audience from diverse locations efficiently, saving both time and money,” said Ulaka.
Haats, held every week at fixed locations, fulfil essential trading and social needs for local residents and serve as vital hubs for socio-cultural interactions within the tribal communities.
These markets have now become focal points for political discourse, drawing crowds of villagers who wait for the haat days. The sudden influx of political leaders into the haats has transformed their atmosphere.
Raghu Majhi , a resident of Lamtaput village in Koraput, shared his surprise at encountering politicians at the Machkund haat. “No politician had visited us before due to our village’s remoteness. But seeing them at the haat was unexpected. The market atmosphere now feels entirely different,” he said.
Similarly, Sima Paraja, who visited the Draguada haat, said, “The haat has been completely infused with political discussions, and we are enjoying hearing from the politicians.”
According to reports, there are over 200 such haats, large and small, operating regularly across these four districts, each offering a unique opportunity for political parties to engage directly with rural voters during the poll season.