Orissa might have overwhelmingly voted for Naveen Patnaik who pushed forward his secular credentials after breaking up with old friend BJP, but the once-peaceful district of Kandhamal which saw widespread anti-Christian riots last year went with the saffron brigade.

The clear division between Hindus and Christians in the district, which was reflected in the results of the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, can be read as a challenge before the state Government as it looks to finds ways to rehabilitate hundreds of refugees who sought protection in relief camps set up during the riots.

The riots last year in the aftermath of the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati caused the death of 38 Christians. Besides, thousands of houses and scores of prayer halls were damaged or burnt by rampaging mobs led by RSS workers. The riots which brought international condemnation for Naveen leading to the break-up of the 11-year-long BJD-BJP alliance, left deep scars on Kandhamal’s social fabric.

The poll results show that the BJP has managed electoral gains in the communal hotspot. The party, which was trounced at most places in the state, could get only six Assembly seats. But out of that, two came from Kandhamal district.

Officials and Christian leaders saw the victory of Manoj Pradhan, a 35-year-old RSS activist and main accused in last year’s riots, from G Udaygiri Assembly constituency by a margin of over 24,000 votes as an indicator that Kandhamal may have been polarised beyond repair. “Pradhan’s win is not a healthy sign. The Hindu tribals voted for him,” said Fr Joseph Kalathil of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Diocese.

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