Dera vote splits,brings PPP,SAD together at Badalgarh

“The PPP had issued false parchas (slips) to mislead the voters,” Fakirian said while showing the parcha. To prove his point,he then shows a small news item on the front page of Dera’s mouthpeice,Sach Kahun,which said the claims are false and have been brought to the notice of the returning officer of the constituency. “Though no written order has been issued,we have been asked to spread the word to support the Congress,” he said.

He is surrounded by people like Gobinder Singh,who announces his profession as LLB,and says the village has 1,225 votes and a majority of Premis in the village have voted for Bhattal.

A few yards away,at the booth of Akali Dal candidate SS Sarao,the claims change with a novelty – the Dera factor has brought the estranged PPP and Akali supporters together. Chamkaur Singh,a farmer of the Gujjar community,says the Congress were not letting Bhagwant Mann’s people to put up their chairs and table near the polling booth. “We intervened and got the PPP to put up their booth,after all in a democracy all parties have equal rights,” he says.

Sitting with him,are Premis,30-year-old Rajdev Singh and his uncle,Gurnam Singh,who say the actual bhangidas of the village is Mela Singh who now resides at the Dera in Sirsa. “We called him yesterday and he told us we can choose to vote for whoever we think is the best candidate,” Rajdev said.

Not choosing to seat with fellow Premis at Congress’ table but at that of the Akalis,is another Dera follower,Binder Insan,who says the Dera has kept the option open and his vote will go to the PPP. He is seconded by a Jat farmer,42-year-old Hukum Singh,a panchayat member of the village. “I will vote for Manpreet as he is an offshoot of the Badal family. Fights happen in family and they can get together tommorrow,” he says.

The split story continues in not only neighbouring viilages of Lehra but also the adjoining seats. Some Premis,on condition of anonymity,even alleged that the bhangidas are trying to mislead the Dera. “In absence of any clear farmann in Sach Kahun newspaper of the Dera,we have no option but to believe them. The bhangidas are bought for money. Many Premis in the village have tken to drugs. They are all bringing a bad name to the Dera. No wonder many are weaning away and will not vote as per the diktat of the local political wing,” an 80-year-old village elder said.