Once a terror in Odisha, Bengal and Jharkhand, septuagenarian Lodha sardar Kala Chand is being wooed by political parties because even at 73, his wish is the command for many.

Why? A former dreaded dacoit leader who spent 10 years in jail in the nineties and came out a changed man, Kala Chand started reforming the poor tribal community by exhorting them to give up crime and lead lives of honesty. Such was his popularity that he was elected ward member of his area — stories abound of how BDOs would stand up and offer their chair when Kala Chand visited their offices, not out of fear but out of respect.

Extreme poverty had forced many members of the community to take up crime after Independence, ironically after they were de-listed as a “criminal tribe” — a tag bestowed by the British. Kala Chand, a resident of Tilakpal village on the border of Bengal and Odisha, too did and became a sardar, or leader of dacoits, whose name spelt terror in the 1980s and early 1990s. But the law caught up with him — Kala Chand says he was betrayed by a relative — and he was arrested and jailed for 10 years.

His transformation began after he was released. For a living, his family, like many other members of the community, began making things of everyday use and selling them at the local markets.

Every Thursday, Kala Chand carries his wares — sal leaves — to the bustling Bansali haat (a local weekly market), in Suliapada block, about 40km from Baripada, the district headquarters of Mayurbhanj. From cosmetics to grocery items, members of the Lodha community sell their products here.

But post-demonetisation, their lives have changed. “Earlier I was an active supporter of Narendra Modi, we all supported the lotus (BJP poll symbol). But after I lost money, I have decided to shift my loyalty to the conch (the symbol of Naveen Patnaik’s BJD). Naveen has not taken away anything from us. He is giving rice to us for our livelihood, cycles and books to our children,” Kala Chand said.

Kala Chand, who commands respect and yields power and influence among the community of over 20,000, is determined not to help the BJP. “Being illiterate I didn’t know where to deposit my money. We don’t know the banking system or dare approach the babus. I burnt all my money for fear of being put behind bars again. If Modi appears before me, I will ask him to return my money,” said the former dacoit leader.

For the last two months, the haat has become a centre of debate among the tribals on whom they should vote for — consequently every party is watching them. “All of us are waiting for an answer from Kala Chand on whom we should vote for. More than 1,000 voters wait to listen to his word. All of us have been the victims of demonetisation,” said Prasant Patra, a local electric shop owner.

The BJP is aggressively campaigning in this constituency, hoping to get the tribal votes. BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday visited Morada, the neighbouring block of Suliapada where Kala Chand has his home, and asked people to “throw away” the Naveen government.

The BJD has dropped its scam-tainted sitting MP Rama Chandra Hansdah and fielded Debashis Marandi, a doctor with a clean image. The BJP has put up Bishweswar Tudu, an engineer. Also in the fray is JMM’s Anjani Soren, the daughter of party chief Shibu Soren, who is being backed by the Congress.

“Things have changed over the years. We will snatch the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat away from the BJD. Just wait till May 23,” said Prashant Sahu, a businessman of Baripada who is also a BJP worker.

Mayurbhanj votes on April 29