Patna: In an unusual twist to Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotir Math, Uttarakhand, has announced plans to field cow vigilantes as candidates in all 243 constituencies. The spiritual leader’s decision follows his recently concluded Gau Mata Sankalp Yatra, which he claims revealed the state’s “deep cultural roots” and support for cow protection.
According to Saraswati, his initiative aims to “safeguard dharma” in a political environment he accuses of neglecting India’s sacred traditions. He maintains that he is “not entering politics,” even as he coordinates candidates, builds alliances, and raises campaign funds. His supporters describe the move as a mission to restore spiritual values, though critics see it as an attempt to mix religion with electoral politics.
Saraswati’s “gau rakshak” candidates are expected to receive moral support from several smaller groups, including the Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Rashtriya Sanatani Party, Rashtriya Swabhiman Party, Sarvodaya Party, and the Right to Recall Party. Together, they aim to campaign on issues of cow protection rather than conventional concerns such as employment, education, or healthcare.
The Shankaracharya has also declared that those who permit cow slaughter or consumption are “equal sinners,” calling on voters to align with parties that defend the cow as a symbol of national identity. His remarks have drawn both applause and criticism across Bihar’s political spectrum.
As the state gears up for elections, Saraswati’s campaign underscores a shift where religious symbolism increasingly shapes political narratives, pushing social and economic debates to the background.
