Deras, NRIs draw the lines on 2 seats in Doaba region

THE Doaba region of Punjab -the Non Resident Indian (NRI) belt of the state-comprises two Lok Sabha constituencies, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, and both are reserved.

- HARPREET BAJWA

Many small and big deras propagating religious teachings dot the entire region, and the election time offers a big opportunity to the dera heads to acquire political posturing in the company of candidates who visit the deras for a larger appeal to the voters.

The Scheduled Caste community has 39% votes in Jalandhar, which is the biggest chunk of voters.

From Union minister Som Parkash, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Ex-Union minister Preneet Kaur and former Union minister Manish Tewari are on a dear-hopping spree.

Recently AAP candidate from Hoshiarpur Raj Kumar Chabbewal met head of Radha Soami Dera in Beas Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon with his family. Releasing his photos with dera chief, Chabbewal said he has long been a dera follower and has taken the 'Naam Daan' (which is given by the spiritual guru, for daily practice to 'invoke the inner voice').