Come election time in Punjab and the estimated 9000 Deras in the state gain importance as the political leaders make a beeline to meet the heads of these socio-religious sects, some of whom have a huge following that can be converted into votes.
The six major deras have a significant influence in as many as 68 constituencies in the state. These include Dera Sacha Sauda, Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Noormahal Dera, Sant Nirankari Mission, Namdhari Dera, and Dera Sachkhand Ballan.
According to a study, Dera Sacha Sauda has an influence on 27 constituencies, Radha Soami Dera on 19, Dera Noormahal on 8, Nirankari Mission on 4, Dera Sachkhand Ballan on 8, and Dera Namdhari on 2 seats.
According to political analyst Professor Pramod Kumar, Director of Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), “these sects are run by Babas who become sole mediators between God and the devotees for imparting holistic knowledge and guidance in politics.”
Professor Ronki Ram of Punjab University says, "Deras are alternative religious sites where people, particularly belonging to lower caste strata of society throng not only for religious respite but also for social and cultural gratification. Such socio-religious alternative sites… also provide a fresh algorithm to influence electoral politics in the state."
These Deras have a huge following and politicians of all hues visit them eyeing their vote bank. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for instance, met Radha Soami head Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon to get his support for the current election campaign.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also visited the Radha Soami Satsang Beas and Dera Sachkhand Ballan. The latter has considerable influence in the Ravidasia Dalit vote bank. Channi announced a grant of Rs 50 crore for the Dera Sahkhand Ballan to set up Guru Ravidas Adhyana Centre. PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu, too, paid a visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan.
Congress, BJP, and Akali leaders have also visited Dera Sacha Saudha's naam charcha kender at Salabtpura in Bathinda and its headquarters in Sirsa to seek electoral support of their followers. Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh has been convicted of rape and murder and it on a 21-day furlough from Sunaria jail in Haryana, but he still has a huge local following among the poor because of the resources that the Dera has in terms of a vast land holding and dairy livestock.
Former BJP Cabinet Minister Surjit Jyani who visited Salabatpura claimed that he was an older follower of the Dera.
Interestingly, senior Akali leaders this time around shunned the Dera Sacha Sauda due to a controversy that resulted in a backlash in the 2017 elections. The Dera followers were accused of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. The Dera has a political wing that guides its followers to en masse cast their votes in favour of the chosen political party.
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