http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/political-parties-are-trying-to-woo-deras-ahead-of-punjab-polls/articleshow/11261040.cms
27 Dec, 2011, 04.02AM IST, Viney Sharma,ET Bureau
Political parties are trying to woo deras ahead of Punjab polls
CHANDIGARH: With Punjab polls just a month away, deras, groupings of
low-caste Sikhs, Hindus and Dalits, have become centres of pilgrimage
for all major political parties.
Describing themselves as a 'true social and spiritual organisations',
these deras are known to cast their franchise en bloc. Naturally,
parties are trying their best to woo them in a state where one in
every three voters falls in the scheduled caste category.
PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh and People's Party of Punjab (PPP)
president Manpreet Badal are openly canvassing for support of the
deras. For the ruling party, Shiromani Akali Dal, seeking dera votes
is somewhat tricky. Although it's making frantic efforts to win them
over, it doesn't want to lose on the "panthic", or religious,
vote-bank comprising Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee voters
coming from rural Punjab.
But unlike the previous elections, these deras are playing truant. In
2007, Dera Sacha Sauda, one of the largest deras, boasting of 3
million followers, had come out openly in favour of Congress. This
time it's keeping its cards close to the chest, though.
"The suggestions of our 'Sangat' (followers) are being taken in
writing across villages. We are yet to decide whether we would support
a party or a candidate individually," says Ram Singh, a member of the
seven-member Sahad Sangat Rajnitik Wing. "Since many of our followers
are doctors and engineers, it's difficult to impose a decision."
The visit of Manpreet Badal, the estranged nephew of chief minister
Parkash Singh Badal, to Sacha Souda, has already divided the Sanjha
Morcha, an alliance of PPP, the Left and SAD (Longowal). While CPI has
welcomed it, CPM opposes the overtures.
Manpreet insists that his visit to the dera has nothing to do with
Punjab elections. "One is free to visit any religious shrine."
Congress claims being a secular party it takes along each and every
individual and sect. "Deras are respected as they provide spiritual
guidance. We pay our obeisance as a mark of respect. Neither the party
has sought any political support from any dera nor has any dera
pledged its support to the party," Capt Amarinder Singh said.
"Congress believes spiritual and political beliefs are two separate
things and must be kept separate."
A few months ago the chief minister had visited Dera Baba Jaimal Singh
of Radhasoami at Beas, 45km away from Amritsar. Although the CM's
office tried to keep his visit secret, dera officials later confirmed
it. His hour-long visit drew strong reactions from staunch SGPC
supporters and Sikh radicals, including the Damdami Taksaal. "Maybe,
Badal sahib just came to seek blessings before elections," said
Anirudh Joshi, a Dera official.
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