Bhubaneswar, Feb. 2: What you dish out is what you get. Tribal welfare minister Sudam Marandi is learning it the hard way.

Marandi, who has built his political career in Mayurbhanj by stoking anti- diku (non-tribal) sentiments, faces threat of ostracisation from his own tribesmen for solemnising his daughter's marriage with a Brahmin boy in Bhubaneswar.

The Santhali strongman was once the poster boy of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the state.

Mayurbhanj resident Tapas Rath recalled how in the early 90s Marandi had created a furore over the marriage of former Janata Dal minister and late tribal veteran Chaitanya Prasad Majhi's daughter with a non-tribal, whipping up anti- diku sentiments in Mayurbhanj.

Interestingly, the marriage of Lipi with Kamal Kant Das, an advocate, was solemnised on October 2, 1994 by the then chief minister, Biju Patnaik, at Naveen Nivas with the latter performing the kanyadan ritual.

"Marandi was then a firebrand tribal leader who rose to prominence by driving a wedge between the tribals and non-tribals. He used the tribal card without any scruples to further his political career. Now the past is coming to haunt him in the wake of his daughter's marriage," said Rath.

On Sunday, the high-profile wedding of Marandi's daughter, Sanjeevani, an MBBS, with Sunil Sarangi, who is the BJD students' wing general secretary, took place at a star hotel in the presence of dignitaries, including governor S.C. Jamir and chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

However, the tribal community in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts are not pleased. They are up in arms against the minister for breaking tradition and choosing a diku as his son-in-law.

"There are no mitigating circumstances in this case. This is not even a love marriage. Tribal customs are sacrosanct and there is punishment for violation. He can still ask for forgiveness and make amends. Otherwise, he will be ostracised," said Purna Hansda, leader of Bhanj Disam Parakana Mahal, a prominent organisation of Santhalis.

Sources said the leaders of various tribal organisations in Mayurbhanj, the native district of the former MP who has also been elected to the Assembly four times, will meet at Kandalia in Bangriposi on Friday, to take a call on the minister's future.

"The heads of all the organisations will be there. The minister, too, will be invited. But irrespective of whether he comes or not, the heads will pronounce their decision in keeping with the tribal customs," said Sunaram Soren, a tribal leader, adding that Marandi had lost the moral right to represent tribals.

President of Mayurbhanj Adivasi Students' Association Sukhlal Marandi said since the daughter of Marandi, who represents Bangriposi, a constituency reserved for tribals, had married a non-tribal, she should not avail of any benefits tribals are entitled to.

On his part, Marandi sought to put up a brave face justifying the marriage.

"I love tribal culture, but the fact is I am not confined to just tribals. I am for all," he told a local TV channel before going incommunicado.