From door-to-door campaigns to regular endorsements through book launches and public meetings, religious leaders seem to have turned into high-profile foot-soldiers of political parties

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the unholy nexus between politicians and religious leaders is seeing yoga gurus and spiritual leaders openly turning into cheerleaders for politicians.

From door-to-door campaigns to regular endorsements through book launches and public meetings, religious leaders seem to have turned into high-profile foot-soldiers of political parties this election season.

With armies of followers at their command and resources to spare, spiritual leaders must obviously be a high-value asset for campaign managers.

And going by the manner in which yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Art of Living Foundation’s Sri Sri Ravi Shankar having been chanting praises of their preferred candidate, religious leaders seem only too happy to oblige politicians.

A recent article in Scroll.in titled ‘Why Sri Sri Ravi Shankar wants your voter ID card number’ draws attention to a certain ‘Happiness Survey’ being conducted by the Art of Living Foundation as part of its ‘I vote for a better India campaign’ that asks readers about their political preferences.

Quoting from the article: “After finding out your political preferences, the survey asks you to share the Voter ID card number. Since it has already taken down your location, email and mobile number, any political party that gets hold of the survey would find it easy to track you down to influence your voting decision before elections, which might be the least worrying possibility of what such data could be used for.”

Ever since the model code of conduct came into force on 6 March, Election Commission officials say, a close watch is being kept on the political activities of religious leaders.

“If a religious leader is promoting the cause of the party or candidate in his or her individual capacity, there is no problem with that. But a religious leader cannot use a religious platform to do so. For example, if a religious meeting is followed by campaigning for a particular party or candidate, that is not allowed," said a senior official.

"Secondly, if at all a religious leader is consistently campaigning for a political party at more than one place or has a scheduled chalked out for such kind of publicity, then the entire expenditure incurred for such kind of publicity can be added to that political party or candidate,” said the officer.

Asked whether special observers had been appointed to shadow religious leaders who have announced their plans to campaign for political parties, the officer explained: “In fact, in every assembly constituency the Election Commission has three flying squads constituted for this purpose. They are headed by a senior executive magistrate, police officers, videographers and engineers. And as and when we receive such information or are aware of such a meetings being held, the team is sent to the spot. They videograph the whole event."

"If it is being held without permission or is violating the model code of conduct, we attempt to stop the programme. If organisers don’t cooperate, we can file a case under penal provisions for the offence committed under law,” the officer said.

Giving an example of such an incident in the recent past, the officer said, “During assembly elections last year, for Ramdev’s meeting the Election Commission had passed an order that all such expenditure will be added on the expenditure of the BJP.”

On the implications of the model code of conduct on the use of religion for promoting political campaigns, the officer said, “No religious platform can be used for any activity of a political nature. No religious occasion, festival, or religious symbol can be used for any kind of political activity. No political leader can use a religious platform such as the Holi festival to further his political motives. That would be a violation of model code of conduct and action can be taken by the Election Commission on this.”