Amit Shah seeks blessings of Prakash Muni

BJP chief Amit Shah, after his arrival at the Swami Vivekananda Airport here, changed his programme slightly and rushed to meet Kabir Panth's religious head Guru Prakash Muni Naam Saheb at his residence at Katora Talab in Raipur on Wednesday.

The meeting lasted about 15 minutes. Chief Minister Raman Singh, BJP state president Dharamlal Kaushik and state Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal were also present.

The BJP chief seeking Prakash Muni's blessings may have political implications.

According to details available, Damakheda Guru Gaddhi (teacher's seat) Prakash Muni Naam Saheb was born in 1967 and was placed on the seat in year 1990.

He is the 15th person to hold the "acharya's" seat.

52% of Chhattisgarh's population is composed of Other Backward Castes. Prakash Muni has direct influence over these communities.

Most of Kabir Panth's followers are from tribals and poorer backward castes.

Singh has been seeking the blessings of Prakash Muni for long. Most followers of the Kabirpanthi are from the chief minister's native district, originally called Kawardha. Singh even had Kawardha renamed Kabirdham.

He vists the Damakheda's fair every year, where he seeks blessings from Prakash Muni.

There were rumours that the BJP was trying to bring Prakash Muni to politics. The party also had plans to send him to the Rajya Sabha, an offer he declined.