Punjab: Politics

With the political alignment by and large in place for the February assembly elections in Punjab, it is the non-political forces that are likely to play a decisive role as they did in 2007 and later in the 2009 Lok Sabha election. Of all major players, Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda headed by controversial Godman Ram Rahim Singh, who faces murder and rape charges, is the most important one.

The rout of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in its traditional stronghold in the Malwa belt in the last election was attributed to Dera Sacha Sauda. However, alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had turned out to be the saviour. The importance of the group could be known by the fact that SAD president and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who is known for his managerial skills, ensured the covert support of the Dera before fielding his wife Harsimrat Kaur from Bathinda in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. It worked out well as she won with a margin of more than a lakh votes. Analysts say Dera would again play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the main players.

But things may be a bit different this time around with Manpreet Singh Badal, former finance minister and estranged cousin of Sukhbir emerging as the game changer in a state, which till now has witnessed bipolar polity with the Congress and the Akali Dal taking turns to form governments, much like the wheat-paddy rotation in agriculture. Since Manpreet’s Peoples Party of Punjab has joined hands with the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Akali Dal (Longowal), associated with former chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala, to cobble up the Sanjha Morcha, all eyes are on this new block.

Efforts are on by the Morcha leaders to rope in the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). A similar effort had earlier been made by former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra after parting company with Parkash Singh Badal. That experiment had led to the ouster of Akali Dal-BJP alliance from power. Manpreet has been creating waves after his ouster from the government and is a leader with some mass base. His only rally held earlier this year at Khatkarkalan, the birth place of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, had evoked unprecedented public response.

Manpreet has already announced the candidature of his father Gurdas Singh Badal from Lambi constituency which is represented by Parkash Singh Badal and a royal battle is expected there. In back room politics, the support of the Dera Sacha Sauda and other Deras would count the most. Despite the directive from Akal Takht against the Deras, relations between the sect and the main ruling party continue to be cordial, claims a source. “There is now no tension, as Dera followers now hold their congregations in villages with the ruling government giving police protection”, he added. Also, efforts are underway to procure the support of Radha Soami Satsang based in Amritsar.