This paper tries to analyse the process of inclusion of the subalterns in the politics of Madhya Pradesh, both as was attempted during the 1980s and in the more recent period. It argues that during the various periods of Congress rule in the state there never was any dearth of efforts by the state for the inclusion of the marginalised in the power structure. However, there appear to have been a dearth of takers in the subaltern society for these state initiated efforts. In spite of successive efforts of the traditional elites "largely constituted by the upper castes in the region " the emergence of the subalterns remained confined within the parameters of upper caste-class dominance. As a result it failed to trigger social movements among the backward caste-classes, as in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The vigorous attempts by the state in the more recent period to provide better representation to the weaker sections have failed to yield the desired results primarily because of two reasons. First, the traditional elites were attempting to create an alternative social base without providing actual power and, secondly, in the absence of any corresponding effort for economic development and the unprecedented depletion of the resource base, it created a situation beyond the control of the state.
