Armed with the Akal Takht edict, various Sikh radical bodies have chalked out a plan to keep a close watch on the SAD (B) candidates’ election campaign.

Fearing that SAD candidates would try to woo premis in violation of the Takht’s hukamnama that prohibits Sikhs from keeping any ties with the Dera Sacha Sauda followers, the Dal Khalsa and the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) has formed teams to capture video footage of such candidates.

“We have formed teams to capture the acts on video, which will be presented before the Akal Takht Jathedar,” said Dal Khalsa general secretary Kunwarpal Singh. The radicals want to embarrass the ruling party that has found itself in a dilemma ever since the edict came into force.

Notably, senior leaders of the SAD(B), including CM Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, had once taken the support of the dera, but received a major setback in Malwa in the last assembly elections, when the Congress swept the south-western region of the state.

“Politicians are opportunistic, they will definitely seek votes from dera followers,” said KAC convener Bhai Mokham Singh. He asked the other like-minded parties to provide assistance to their programme.

Mokham claimed, “Other political, religious and social outfits are also joining our endeavour to expose the ruling party leaders.” He added that they would launch sting operations to “expose” the ruling party candidates all over the state, especially in Malwa where the dera has maximum following.

Meanwhile, Dera Sacha Sauda’s political affairs wing leader Ram Singh said their followers included people from all walks of life with different political affiliations. “Our followers have no specific political affiliations,” he added.