Poll-bound Punjab awaits Dera Sacha Sauda diktat on voting

SALABATPURA/SIRSA: Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda is likely to announce its support in favour of a party or candidates in pollbound Punjab on Sunday. The campaigning ended on Saturday and the state would go to polls on Monday.

The candidates contesting the polls are keenly awaiting the Dera's decision as the sect has a massive following in Punjab's Malwa region. Heavyweights like CM Prakash Singh Badal, his son and deputy CM, Sukhbir, and rebel Akali leader Manpreet Badal are contesting from the region that has 67 of the state's 117 assembly seats.

Congress leader Amarinder Singh rushed to Sirsa on Friday to meet Sacha Sauda head Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim. His wife and Union minister Preneet Kaur and son Raninder—a Congress candidate — visited Dera a few days ago and so did Manpreet Badal's wife, Veenu.

Sources said the dera's political wing had called for inputs from its followers in Punjab, based on which, they were to decide which party or candidate to support. The wing held meetings on January 23, 26 and 27 to arrive at a decision. The Dera followers are known as ‘Kukas' and have made remarkable contribution to the freedom struggle.