After MP's Chouhan Elevated Saints to Minister Rank, Babas Queue up For Assembly Tickets
Bhopal: Though the popularity of several Babas in the Hindi heartland is accepted by the Congress and the BJP, ahead of the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Babas have for the first time taken centre stage.
Shloka-chanting Babas are now queuing up at the headquarters of political parties, seeking tickets for assembly polls.
Recently, when a group of sadhus dressed in saffron and white robes, their long flowing hair resting on their shoulders, entered Deendayal Parisar, the BJP headquarters, the police force which has been deputed to deal with ticket seekers were pleasantly surprised.
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Baba Bipin Bihari from Sagar district, accompanied by his supporters, made quite an impression as he entered the party headquarters chanting shlokas. The sadhu and his followers met senior party leader Vijendra Singh Sisodia and demanded the assembly ticket from Sagar constituency on the basis of his caste.
A Brahmin candidate should be fielded from his area instead of a Jain contender, the self-styled godman told Sisodia and media persons.
When the party functionaries did not allow the sadhu and his followers to meet senior party leaders including Suhas Bhagat, the state general secretary, they walked out, but only after threatening the party would face the electoral consequences of not meeting his demands.
According to a senior party leader, babas aspiring for the party's ticket is a new phenomenon.
Computer Baba was one of the five saints elevated to Mnister of State rank. Credit: PTI
Elevation of five babas to Minister of State rank
“Elevation of five babas to the Minister of State rank by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan may have spurred political ambitions among self-styled godmen,” the senior party leader added.
The Madhya Pradesh BJP is facing trouble from another godman, Swami Namdev Tyagi, popularly known as Computer Baba.
Three-weeks after resigning from the minister of state (MoS) status given by the government, Computer Baba is organising a gathering of saints and seers to "expose" the BJP's 15-year regime (Chouhan has been in office for nearly 13 years).
“Saints will hold discussions and deliver discourses highlighting illegal sand mining (in the Narmada River), steps required for the protection and welfare of cows, status and conditions of Hindu religious places in the state. The first event will be organised in Gwalior on October 30, Khandwa on November 4, Rewa on November 11, and
in Jabalpur on November 23," Computer Baba said.
Ahead of Computer Baba's programme, the chief minister attended an unscheduled meeting at Bhopal’s Hindi Bhawan, despite the model code of conduct being put in place. The meeting was called Sant Sabha.
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Chouhan attended the meet and sought the blessings of saints. The saints praised the CM for his decisions to establish a cow ministry, increase honorarium of pujaris, free pilgrimage scheme and other welfare measures taken by his government for the priests.
Some of the priests took the occasion to lay a scathing attack on the 52-year-old Computer Baba, who was among the five religious functionaries who were accorded Minister of State status in April this year by Chouhan's government.
"One computer has failed, but there are 99 others functioning efficiently," quipped Indore's Swami Pranavanand Saraswati.
With 90% Hindu voters, elections in MP have always been a contest between the BJP and the Congress. The election for the 230 assembly seats will be held on November 28. Counting of votes will be done on December 11.
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