India: How BJP got Dera Sacha Sauda's support for the 2014 state elections in Haryana?

Economic Times

How BJP got Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim Singh's support
Raghav Ohri, ET Bureau Oct 17, 2014, 04.00AM IST


CHANDIGARH: A week before the polling, BJP candidates were informed that their request to meet "Guru ji" has been accepted.

Not to miss the chance, on October 7, 44 of the 90 BJP candidates turned up to meet Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh at his Sirsa-based Dera. The meeting, which began at 5 pm, lasted for less than 15 minutes wherein Guru ji showered his "blessings" on them and asked them to meet the political wing of the Dera. Leading the "contingent" was Kailash Vijayvargiya, Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister and BJP's campaign incharge for Haryana.

Couple of days later the Dera, for the first time in its history, announced open support for a political party—the BJP. For the past 24 years, ever since its inception, the Dera has refrained from offering open support to any political party. Till now, there had been a tacit indication in favour of one or a few political leaders but not towards any political party.

Also, it is for the first time that the Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh cast his vote on October 15 at Shahpur Begu Village in Sirsa. After casting his vote, he posted his photo on his Twitter account.

The development also assumes significance as it is perhaps for the first time that the Dera Chief gave same time to political leaders belonging to one party.

Realizing the worth of political dividends the open support of Dera Sacha Sauda can pay, the BJP top brass had a detailed strategy to woo the Dera support. Exactly six days before the 44 candidates met the controversial Dera Chief, the BJP President Amit Shah had a meeting with Ram Rahim at his Sirsa Dera.

Shah, sources told ET, sought Dera Chief 's "blessings" for both Haryana and Maharashtra. For, the Dera reportedly has over 60 lakhs followers in Haryana and over 25 lakhs in Maharashtra. After the meeting, Shah was asked to meet the political wing of the Dera.

It is pertinent to mention here that it was Shah's close aide and front runner for the Chief Ministerial post, Captain Abhimanyu who played a pivotal role in persuading the Dera to meet the BJP leaders and come out in open to support the party in elections. He also met the Dera Chief during the election campaigning.