Patiala, May 19: With politics of vote-bank picking up in Punjab in the wake of political parties seeking support from various Deras, politicians across parties are now out to woo Nihangs in the wake of the demise of Budha Dal Nihang chief Baba Santa Singh. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal is openly putting its weight behind the new Budha Dal chief, Baba Balbir Singh, who was handed over the reins of Budha Dal by Baba Santa Singh himself. The Congress and other parties are not lagging behind in wooing Nihangs.

Sources told The Indian Express that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had herself called up Baba Balbir Singh to express her condolences on the demise of Baba Santa Singh. Baba Balbir Singh confirmed having received a condolence call from Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, a number of Akali and Congress MLAs and other leaders have already visited Baba Balbir Singh, in their bid to woo Nihangs. During the bhog ceremony of Baba Santa Singh here on Sunday, Congress MLAs and leaders, including Lal Singh and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, were all present.

Among the Akalis, though Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal skipped the bhog, his son and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal spent quite some time with the new Nihang chief on Saturday. He reportedly had a lengthy meeting with the Nihang chief alone at his residence. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar, Lok Bhalai party president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh and some local Akali leaders also attended the bhog on Sunday.

Baba Santa Singh was involved in the reconstruction of Akal Takht in Amritsar through kar sewa in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar in June 1984, on the instructions of the then PM Indira Gandhi. In view of his kar sewa at Akal Takht, Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated from the Sikh panth, but was later exonerated in 2001. He was also close to Congress leader and former Union minister Buta Singh.