Impact of 'Dera Baba' in Haryana elections

In the Haryana Assembly elections, the BJP created history by winning for the third consecutive time. BJP has confirmed Nayab Singh Saini as the Chief Minister candidate. However, controversy has erupted regarding the parole granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim before the elections. Critics alleged that the BJP strategically allowed the parole to garner electoral support. Ram Rahim, who is serving a jail sentence, was granted a 20-day parole just four days before the Assembly elections.

Opposition parties claimed that the BJP government in the state facilitated this parole to gain votes in the elections. This move has sparked a debate over which party benefited from Ram Rahim’s release. Out of the 28 Assembly constituencies with a significant Dera supporter base, Congress won 15 seats, BJP won 10, the INLD won 2, and 1 was secured by an independent candidate. Congress gained a vote share of 53.57%, while BJP secured 35.71%, INLD got 7%, and independents 3.57%.

Media reports suggested that Ram Rahim urged his followers to vote for the BJP during his satsang and encouraged each follower to bring at least five voters to the booth. In the past, Ram Rahim has supported parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress in elections, openly backing Congress in the 2007 Haryana and Punjab Assembly elections. However, in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, he extended his support to the BJP.