In Delhi, BJP finds a friend in Ram Rahim's Dera Sacha Sauda

Dera Sacha Sauda headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Thursday extended its support to Bharatiya Janata Party in the Delhi assembly polls.

Ram Singh, chairman of the sect’s political affairs wing, said that the Dera has decided to support BJP candidates in Delhi elections.

Asked if the support was also for Akali dal candidates, he replied in the affirmative.

The Dera, which has a considerable following in the Delhi’s neighbouring states Harayana and Punjab, claims to have about 20 lakh followers in Delhi alone out of which 12 lakh are voters.

The sect had announced to support BJP candidates during Haryana assembly polls last year and the party stormed to power for the first time on its own.

“Today’s announcement was made by the political wing of Dera, which has 15 members,” the political wing’s (Delhi unit) vice president Amandeep Insan said

He claimed that the Dera has about 20 lakh followers in Delhi and they have been told to vote for BJP candidates in the polls.

“Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, drive against female foeticide and drugs in the country,” Amandeep said.