Archive · 9 Aug 2026
AAP-BJP Rivalry Over Punjab's Dalit Votes Deepens With Ravidas Centre
A very important religious leader named Guru Ravidas lived in India a long time ago.
His followers, called Ravidassias, live in a state called Punjab.
Soon it will be the 650th birthday of Guru Ravidas, and people want to celebrate it.
The leader of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, started building a big research centre to learn about the Guru's life and teachings.
It will cost about 100 crore rupees and cover 10 and a half acres.
Another big leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also visited a holy place connected to the Guru's followers and met its head.
The two leaders belong to different political parties and both want to be friends with the Guru's followers.
That is because many people in Punjab follow Guru Ravidas, and about 32 out of every 100 people in Punjab belong to Dalit communities.
When elections come in 2027, these voters will help choose who runs the state.
So the leaders are trying to show that they care about the community.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann laid the foundation stone of the Shri Guru Ravidas Bani Adhyayan Centre near Dera Sachkhand Ballan on Sunday.
The centre at Naugajan village will spread over around 10.5 acres, cost about Rs 100 crore, and host research and study facilities on Guru Ravidas's life and teachings.
The project comes ahead of the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas in 2027, for which the state government has announced year-long programmes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in February and met Dera head Sant Niranjan Dass, recently conferred the Padma Shri, while the Centre also flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express.
Scheduled Castes make up about 32 per cent of Punjab's population, the highest among Indian states, making the Ravidassia community a key electoral target ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
- Who
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann (AAP), Prime Minister Narendra Modi (BJP) and Dera Sachkhand Ballan head Sant Niranjan Dass
- What
- The laying of the foundation stone of the Shri Guru Ravidas Bani Adhyayan Centre amid a growing AAP-BJP contest over Punjab's Dalit votes
- When
- Sunday for the foundation stone; February for PM Modi's Dera visit; with the 2027 Assembly elections approaching
- Where
- Naugajan village near Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab's Doaba region, India
- Why
- Both parties are seeking to connect with the Ravidassia and Dalit electorate ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Outreach to the Ravidassia community
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Positions its initiatives, including the research centre, memorial projects and year-long celebrations, as a commitment to social equality and Guru Ravidas's teachings.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Uses the Prime Minister's visit, the Padma Shri conferred on Dera head Sant Niranjan Dass and the Sant Ravidas Express to expand its social base in Punjab.
Symbolic outreach vs substantive issues
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Religious and symbolic gestures such as centres, trains and honours will strengthen ties with Dalit voters.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Voters will ultimately judge the parties on issues such as education, employment, welfare, representation and social justice.
- Project
- Shri Guru Ravidas Bani Adhyayan Centre
- Location
- Naugajan village, near Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Punjab
- Area
- About 10.5 acres
- Estimated cost
- About Rs 100 crore
- Function
- Research and study facility on Guru Ravidas's life and teachings
- Context
- 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas in 2027; year-long programmes announced
- Dalit population
- Scheduled Castes form about 32% of Punjab's population, the highest among Indian states
- Key BJP outreach
- PM Modi's February visit, Padma Shri for Sant Niranjan Dass, Sant Ravidas Express flagged off