Adilabad: Meet Sidam Anniga, first-ever Kolam tribal contesting assembly election

Adilabad: "Please elect me as Asifabad (ST) MLA. You will not need to seek an appointment. You can directly meet me and discuss your problems." This stinging comment on the elitist political atmosphere comes as an appeal from a poor tribal and independent candidate Sidam Anniga. It seems to be striking a chord with fellow tribal voters.

Sidam Anniga, a 29-year-old tribal from the most disadvantaged Kolam tribe represents the beauty of democracy in being able to contest the elections despite being utterly resourceless. He rightfully aims at raising critical issues his tribe is faced with besides exposing the reasons for its backwardness.

This is the first time in history that a member of the Kolam tribe, which is categorized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) owing to its poverty and backwardness is aspiring to become a Member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly. Though it is a herculean task given the trends in electoral politics, he will have succeeded in his mission.

"So far, no political party has made a sincere effort in lifting us out from the morass," observed the bitter independent contestant. My tribe has been ignored by political parties even while allocating nominated posts," he added as he talked about the grouse that his community nurtures.

Anniga is the sarpanch of Chaupanguda gram panchayat in Wankidi Mandal in the constituency. He says no Kolam has politically risen above the level of Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency in the old united Adilabad district.

"We are discriminated against even by the dominant Raj Gond tribe. The voter strength of Kolams is big enough in the constituency for me to make my point, " he elaborated.

The independent claims that the Kolam voters will not support any other candidate even if he belongs to an aboriginal tribe. Echoing this claim, Madavi Bheem Rao, a Kolam MPTC member from Keslaguda in Indervelli mandal of Khanapur (ST) constituency also hinted that the Kolams are unlikely to back the campaign of ethnic tribe candidate.

The reason for the bitterness among Kolams is some dispute with the Raj Gonds involving the Kolam Sangham Adilabad district president Sone Rao. In resentment, the Kolams had protested across old Adilabad a few months back when the dispute had surfaced.

Dismissing the contention of the Kolams is Godam Ganesh, Adilabad district president of the main Adivasi organization, Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samithi, popularly known as Tudum Debba. He asserts that smaller aboriginal tribes have been given equal importance by the larger tribes and quotes the example of Satla Ashok, a Naikpod tribal and BJP candidate propped up by aboriginal tribes from the Khanapur (ST) constituency in the 2018 elections.

Meanwhile, the Kumram Bheem Asifabad district BC Sankshema Sangham has declared its support to Anniga. Sangham president Rupnar Ramesh has extended his backing to the candidate as he believes he will also do justice to the backward classes in the constituency.