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Guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the Swachh Bharat campaign at Bandra-Kurla Complex on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. (TOI photo)

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Dera Sachcha Sauda extends support to BJP. Now we know why the censor board was unceremoniously packed off in the case of MSG movie. — Yogendra Yadav (@AapYogendra) February 5, 2015

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with inputs from PTI)

NEW DELHI: Delhi polls have become all the more interesting with Dera Sacha Sauda pledging support to the Bhartiya Janata Party on the last day of campaigning in the national capital.Ram Singh, chairman of the sect's political affairs wing, told PTI that the Dera has decided to support BJP candidates in Delhi elections. Asked if the support was also for Akali dal candidates, he replied in the affirmative.Dera Sacha Sauda is a sect from neighbouring Haryana headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh - the 47-year-old rockstar guru.The pledge gives an interesting turn to the poll as Dera, which has a considerable following in the Delhi's neighbouring states Harayana and Punjab, has over 15 lakh followers in the capital.The sect had announced to support BJP candidates during Haryana Assembly polls last year and the party stormed to power for the first time on its own."Today's announcement was made by the political wing of Dera, which has 15 members," political wing (Delhi unit) vice president Amandeep Insan told PTI.He claimed that the Dera has about 20 lakh followers in Delhi and they have been told to vote for BJP candidates in polls to beheld on February 7."Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, drive against female foeticide and drugs in the country," Amandeep said.Reacting to the Dera support to BJP, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav tweeted:The Dera had recently made headlines with its chief featuring in a film 'MSG: Messenger of God'. The film was mired in controversy as it was cleared by a tribunal for release, following which censor board members had resigned in protest.Sikh organisations have been against Dera Sacha Sauda ever since its chief appeared in an attire similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, in 2007 triggering major controversy.It should be noted that the film has been banned in Punjab by the BJP-supported Akali Dal government. Akali Dal has been leading the protests against the film and its leader Ram Rahim Singh. Akali Dal is also supporting BJP in Delhi elections.The film is yet to release in Delhi and many parts of north India.