Come election season, and it's time for deras to flex their political muscle in Punjab

Chandigarh, Feb 6 With 'deras' or religious sects enjoying considerable clout in Punjab, particularly among a section of Dalits, they play a gamechanger role in vote politics in every election be it the parliamentary or the legislative assembly.

As per estimates, in the 117-member legislative Assembly at least six 'deras' have direct influence on at least 46 seats that fall largely in the Malwa region through an internal appeal by asking followers to vote for a particular political party.

Not just the Congress, almost every political party the Shiromani Akali Dal

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