BJP candidate from Hodal performs Dandavat Pranam to woo voters

Some candidates seem to be stretching all limits to influence voters in the ongoing state Assembly elections. The BJP candidate of the Hodal segment, Harinder Singh, has taken to the extreme form of greeting by performing 'dandavat pranam' during his election campaign in the constituency.

He is perhaps the first and only candidate who has adopted this form of greeting in the ongoing campaign. Majority of the candidates have been greeting voters in the traditional form of namaskar or waving at them. Dandavat pranam involves bowing down completely, touching the ground with eight parts of the body — forehead, chest, both hands, both knees, and both feet. It signifies complete surrender and reverence towards someone.

With this segment being SC reserved, Harinder (55) is faced with the Congress party heavyweight Udai Bhan, who has been the four-time MLA and the present Chief of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee from this seat. While his form of greeting leaves people amused, it has also received attention from many, according to some political analysts.

“Harinder has been performing dandavat pranam in front of elderly people to show respect to them,’’ said one of his kin. This also helps him seek blessings of elders and senior citizens and has greater chances of getting the support or sympathy from the people.

Son of former MLA Ram Rattan from this segment, Harinder has been able to get the BJP ticket from the seat for the first time. He has replaced the sitting or outgoing BJP MLA Jagdish Nayar from this segment. His father was elected MLA from this seat in 1991 on Congress ticket. This seat was known as Hassanpur prior to the 2000 elections. His style of greeting elders has attracted many and has been able to garner attention during the campaign, said Dori Lal, a political analyst.