Followers wish to support ‘good’ candidate, dera leaders undecided

With Dera Sacha Sauda followers expressing the desire to support a ‘good’ candidate instead of a particular political party for the Lok Sabha polls on May 19, the Sirsa-based sect that wields considerable sway in the Malwa belt of Punjab is keeping everyone guessing ahead of voting.

In the past one month, the dera followers have held back-to-back large naam charchas (religious congregations) in a show of strength at several places across the Malwa belt. These were the first large gatherings of the group after dera-chief Ram Rahim was sentenced for raping his two disciples and murdering a journalist in August 2017.

However, dera leaders say these congregations were aimed at taking a feedback from followers as to which political party do they wish to support for Lok Sabha polls.

Member of dera’s political wing Ram Singh said followers are in favour of supporting a good candidate irrespective of political affiliation. “Devotees discussed the consequences of supporting political parties in the past, as they had to vote for a nominee they didn’t consider good,” said Ram Singh.

Chhinderpal Singh, another member of political wing said they have yet to take a decision, while member of the wing Balraj Singh said he could not disclose the feedback received from followers.

In the 2007 Punjab assembly polls, the dera had supported Congress, in 2014, the dera had supported the BJP, while in 2017 the dera had supported SAD–BJP in Punjab.