Three days before the crucial Assembly elections in Punjab, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has visited an ancient temple in the village of Varanasi within Uttar Pradesh.
Mr. Channi visited his destination at the Guru Ravidas Temple at Seer Goverdhanpur, the place of birth for the social reformer from the 14th century and a spiritual leader who has become an essential icon for Dalits in the early days.
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Some other politicians are likely to make a run to the temple later in the daytime.
At 4 am today, Mr. Channi Punjab’s first Dalit Chief Minister arrived at the temple to offer his prayers.
He also attended the kirtan of the temple over the 45 minutes he was there.
In between avoiding political and electoral matters, The Chief Minister also visited pilgrims from Punjab and inquired about their health.
“My heartfelt wishes to all on the celebration of Ravidas Jayant. I’m to say my prayers,” he said.
Each season, this village is a magnet for thousands of Ravidasis-an influential segment of Dalits in Punjab and politicians seeking to attract members of the Dalit community.
Before the 2019 general elections, PM Narendra Modi made an excursion to the temple in a small village next to Banaras Hindu University campus.
Before this, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal was a visitor to the temple in the days leading up towards an election in 2017. Punjab election.
The power of the Ravidas family in Punjab politics can be assessed by how every party voiced their support in requesting that the elections be delayed when they were initially planned for Feb 14.
In announcing that people from the community were expected to visit this Varanasi Temple between the 10th and 16th of February Channi had written to the Election Commission, Channi wrote an email to the Election Commission, “In such an event, a lot of people belonging to this group would not be eligible to cast votes in an assembly of the state, something that is a constitutional right” the letter reads.
Premier Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed that the prime minister will visit a Delhi Temple to pray prayers to celebrate the day.
President Ram Nath Kovind has also tweeted his greetings on occasion.
