Attempts to woo voters with the help of saint: programs of many political parties on Ravidas Jayanti today, 20 lakh voters in Punjab are his followers

In the midst of the election battle for the assembly in Punjab, there is a competition among the political parties to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sant Ravidas Temple in Karol Bagh, Delhi. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will attend the function to be held at the Ravidas temple in Varanasi. Varanasi is the birthplace of Sant Ravidas. Here, the Arvind Kejriwal government of Delhi has announced a public holiday on the day of birth anniversary.

Keep an eye on the votes of the followers in the election season
Since the announcement of Punjab elections, the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas is in the headlines. Earlier, in view of his birth anniversary, the date of assembly elections in Punjab was pushed forward. At the same time, by participating in the birth anniversary, political parties are trying to cross their boat.

The number of people who believe in Sant Ravidas in Punjab is in lakhs. According to the 2011 census, Punjab has a Dalit population of 31.9%. Out of this, 19.4% Dalits are Sikhs and 12.4% are Hindu Dalits. At the same time, out of the total Dalit population, about 26.33% religious Sikhs, 20.7% Ravidasi and Ramdasi, 10% Adharmi and 8.6% come from Valmiki community.

Dalit voters play a decisive role in 98 seats in Punjab.

Not only this, according to a report, out of 117 seats in Punjab, 98 constituencies have Dalit voters ranging from 49% to 20%. At the same time, 34 seats of the Legislative Assembly have been reserved in the state. In Punjab’s Malba and Doab-Manjha regions, Dalit voters also influence the elections a lot. In such a situation, the importance of these seats increases a lot to form the government, due to which all the parties have started wooing the Dalit voters with the help of Ravidas Jayanti before the elections.

Voting to be held on February 20 in 117 seats
Polling for the assembly elections in all 117 seats in Punjab is to be held simultaneously on February 20. In the 2017 elections, the Congress party formed the government by winning 77 seats. On the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party came second with 20 seats. This time the main contest is being considered between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress. However, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP alliance are also trying to turn the contest on their side.

Know about Sant Ravidas
Sant Ravidas was born on Magh Purnima in Samvat 1443 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. After getting spiritual knowledge in the company of sages and saints, he considered karma as the root of life. Sant Ravidas left this mortal body in 1540. His couplets, based on self-knowledge, unity, brotherhood and attacking the evils like caste system, became nectar words for his followers. Gradually his followers started calling themselves the Ravidasiya community. People of this community live in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and mainly in Punjab.