The controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and his adopted daughter, Honeypreet, sought bail from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on different grounds, over the last weekend.
The Dera has always been able to influence voters in large parts of Haryana and to a lesser extent in Punjab. Thus, it will not be wrong to conclude that the timing of the bail application is intended to give directions on political preferences to thousands of followers, from the Dera headquarters in Sirsa. All 10 constituencies of Haryana will vote on May 12.
The interim bail application of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will come up for hearing on Wednesday. Gurmeet has sought a month's reprieve on grounds that his foster daughter Guransh, originally an orphan, is getting married on May 10.
As she has no one else to make the arrangements and give her away, Gurmeet said he will have to do the needful, and he plans the kanyadan (giving away) and bidai (sending off the bride) at the Dera headquarters.
Political observers believe that coming as the event does, just two days ahead of polling in Haryana, the baba can give his message to followers on who to vote for, on May 10.
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The High Court has asked the CBI to provide information on the law and order situation, as well as how it will be impacted if Gurmeet is granted bail. Honeypreet has sought bail, saying she was not involved in the violence that broke out after Gurmeet's conviction in 2017.
The Dera is said to have tilted the scales in favour of the BJP in the Haryana assembly elections in the winter of 2014. But with all the controversy, violence and arrests and jailing of the Dera chief and his close associates, as well as the raids inside the Dera and the many cases, including murder, against him, the group may not support the BJP this time.
Will the BJP be able to assuage the angry Dera followers?That remains to be seen, though information will trickle out if Gurmeet gets interim bail on Wednesday.